MD530F: The Proven, American-made Trainer for Army Aviation's Future

As the U.S. Army shapes the future of pilot training through Flight School Next, MD Helicopters proudly puts forward the MD 530F—a combat-proven, American-made training aircraft built for the demands of modern Army Aviation.

Designed, built, and supported in America, the MD 530F is not simply a commercial adaptation—it’s a military training platform born from decades of experience and built for the battlefield environments of tomorrow. With a five-bladed rotor system that mimics the handling of frontline aircraft like the UH-60M Black Hawk and AH-64E Apache, the MD 530F helps students train like they fight—right from day one.

“The Army is investing in its future warfighters, and that means delivering training tools that truly reflect operational reality,” said Ryan Weeks, President & CEO at MD Helicopters. “The MD 530F is not just ready for that mission—it was built for it.”

Key features include:
Hydraulics-free flight controls for more realistic feedback and easier maintenance
Crash-resistant fuel system and energy-absorbing structure for increased safety
Dual-control, NVG-compatible cockpit for mission-relevant training, including night and limited-visibility operations
Rugged design with low lifecycle costs and high readiness

Powered by a Rolls Royce 650 shp engine and tested in the toughest environments, the MD 530F is already trusted by military forces worldwide. It’s ready to deliver mission-relevant training with unmatched reliability.
Built for safety. Designed to last. Made in America.

The MD 530F is ready to train tomorrow’s Army aviators—today.



Credits:
🎥 AZ Event Video
Some clips from Paul Barth at Airborne Tactical Training Solutions