What happened to Notar, did it catch on?

[Dave Homewood]

Back in the early-mid 1990's there was a lot written in NZ Wings about the latest development in helicopter technology where there was no tail rotor. It was a system called Notar where from memory a jet of air that substiuted what the rotor did.

I have never seen one of these helicopters in service however. Did it not catch on, or have I just missed it, and most of NZ's helos are older?

[Damon]

Dave, see link for details. The Notar is being used worldwide.I believe some 8 Notars are being operated in N.Z currently.

www.mdhelicopters.com/products.php?id=MD_520N

[Naki]

They are still around and still been produced.

MD Helicopters almost went bust but they seem to be surviving now. Heres their web site www.mdhelicopters.com. Hughes developed it and then Hughes was sold to Mc Donnell Douglas - the military heli arm went to Boeing but some investors picked up the rest of the helicopter division which retained the Notar technology.

At last count there were 10 MD 500Ns in the country along with 1 600N so there are plenty here in NZ - no Explorers though.

Just seen a pic of a new small German (or was it French) helicopter which also uses Notar tech so it is definitely not dead.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks chaps.

[Damon]

Dave, Pacific Wings Dec 2007/Jan 2008 has an article about MD helicopters and the owner Lynn Tilton.The article explains the fall and rise of MD Helicopters and the troubles they had.
For instance 'Tilton poured US$200 Million into MD between July 2005 and February 2006 -losing money to get helicopter operators back in the air...'


Well worth a read if you can get the mag.

Damon

[hairy]

I wish the police would get rid of their clattery old Squirrels and invest in a couple because the NOTAR 500 is a damn sight quieter.
I've seen this one at Ardmore fairly often.

[vs]

They are very popular with poilce air wings due to being quieter than most other choppers