Helicopter Operations - Deer Recovery / Live Capture - New Zealand

Interesting video of Kiwi's using the MD500 for deer capture in New Zealand
The pilot in this video is Morgan Saxton who died in 2008 when his R22
went  down in Lake Wanaka. RIP M Saxton.

Introducing the VTOL Helicopter Blog

I found these videos on the VTOL Helicopter blog. I might add this is a very good site for all things concerning helicopters such as, All Helicopter News; Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) Operations; Incidents and Accidents; and the Videos Worth Watching Series. Also included are insights, and viewer comments involving choppers. There’s a lot of good stuff here - Check It Out!

The videos below show the versatility of the helicopter, it's uses are endless. What a great invention!

A feature on power line work using N138TX, a 1979 MD500D operated by Air2. This particular video is near and dear to my heart. I was a high voltage power lineman in the Air Force for 15 years. Back in 1982  I got out of the Air Force for about 8 months, and for a few months I worked outside of Dallas, Texas working on high voltage transmission lines like the ones you see here in this video. What they are installing are wind dampeners - what we lineman affectionately called “dog bones".




Wind turbine utility work in a 2002 EC135 T2. Helicopter Hoist Offshore Windturbines

MD500C (OH-6) Helicopter; Preflight, Start-up, and Shutdown Videos

I would like to introduce Michael Miller and his "how to" videos. Thanks Michael for taking the time to make all these "How to" videos involving the MD500. What a great machine! Michael also has many videos on the R-22 which I'll introduce in my next posting. The MD500 C model, which you can tell by the V tail, is a 1970's model. They played a big role in Vietnam; military model OH-6 (observation helicopter). Hugh L. Mills' book  Low Level Hell gives an exceptional account about the men and what these machines the OH-6 did during the Vietnam War. They were known as "Scout Pilots".

Artist's rendition of then Captain Hugh Mills' OH-6A "Miss Clawd IV". After her tour in Vietnam Miss Clawd (17340) served a with the army's precision helicopter team, the Silver Eagles. Sometime afterwards she was donated to the army aviation Museum at Fort Rucker. It was there, by total coincidence, Mills discovered his old bird. Soon 17340 was restored to her Vietnam configuration and reinstated in the Museums exhibit.

Without further ado, here's Michael's "how to" videos on the MD500C.

First part of a preflight video series involving the MD500 C model helicopter. This video series is designed in helping people who are wanting to get into the MD500 or turbine world of aviation without having to spend a lot of time or money with an instructor. Although it isn't like having an instructor next to you while learning how to work a turbine, it is designed to help give you an understanding of what the procedures are and what the gauges look like when an actual turbine is started and shut down. Michael Miller

 How to Preflight an MD500C (OH-6) Helicopter
 Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5; Part 6


MD500 Helicopter - Pre-Start Checks

MD500 Helicopter - How to start + Limitations


Startup of a Turbine MD500 Helicopter - Outside view


Startup & Takeoff of an Turbine MD500 Helicopter


MD500 - How to Shutdown a Turbine

OH-6A LOH

Mike, thanks again, excellent job!  I love the MD500. It's my dream to fly one some day.