The MD500/M530/600 series share the OH-6 lineage. At least a few of
those have been sold commercially since the MDHI split. MDHI sold some
MDExplorers to the Mexican Navy, and some paramilitary versions in
Europe. The rotor system on the MELB was developed for the commercial
MD530F. That's the point - the civil and military markets and
technologies are complementary.

The Europeans didn't just buy militarized versions of civil aircraft to
improve their balance sheet. They developed dual-use aircraft to fill
their requirements from a domestic source. With a full product line,
Eurocopter can sell military or commercial as the markets shift. No, I
don't expect a commercial Tiger derivative, but giving Australia a
commercial helicopter assembly factory helped get that country to buy
the Tiger.

Technology development in military and civil helicopters is
interdependent. Rotor, transmission, HUMS, and other advancess carry
over from one market to the other. The flaw tolerance in the
commercial S-92 makes a very safe, crashworthy military helicopter (The
VXX competition chose to ignore that.) Commercial innovations -- HUMS,
on-condition maintenance -- can cut O&S costs for military operators.


Light helicopers have no future? Boeing abandoned the product line it
now needs to compete for a sizeable US Army order. It may have also
pushed itself out of the LUH contest. Tell me how that was smart
business.

HW