Claims MD Explorer Offers Best Value at the Best Price

MD Helicopters says it's delivered its Light Utility Helicopter (LUH) proposal to the US Army Aviation and Missile Command headquarters at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama.

"MDHI embraced the Army's progressive approach on the LUH Program that combined tough demands on specifications in the helicopter with stringent requirements for logistics/training programs and a stipulation for a cost-effective solution," said Lynn Tilton, Chairman of the Board of Directors of MDHI. "Our aircraft, the MD Explorer, is the only FAA-certified, off-the- shelf solution available that combines the strict performance requirements dictated by the LUH program with price and total operating costs as set forth."

MDHI is proposing its MD Explorer Light Utility Helicopter and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) team for the US Army's LUH Program. With MDHI as prime contractor in the proposal, DynCorp International, Aviation Systems of Northwest Florida and GENCO Infrastructure Solutions complete the team that will provide both the aircraft and CLS throughout the life of the program.

"These are industry-leading partners to have on our team," said Robert Rene, Chief Executive Officer for MDHI. "Together, along with the MD Explorer, we have offered the Army a superior combination of aircraft and logistical support. We appreciate the opportunity to participate in the Army's evaluation and look forward to the selection process."

In anticipation of the US Army aircraft demonstration phase, MDHI will roll out two MD Explorer aircraft equipped specifically for US Army service. The aircraft will be delivered to the US Army for the fly-off that begins in late November.

MDHI has upgraded the MD Explorer to include a Heli-Dyne Systems 600 lb.-capable hoist for rescue operations. It has also has added primary flight displays featuring the new FlightLogic 3-D Synthetic Vision electronic flight information system (EFIS) from Chelton Flight Systems. The EFIS combines advanced heads-up-display (HUD) type symbology with real-time forward-looking 3-D terrain imagery.

The FlightLogic primary flight display provides a three-dimensional representation of the oncoming terrain reflecting the aircraft's relationship to that terrain in real time.

FMI: www.mdhelicopters.com