Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

MD Helicopters MD 500, 500D, 500E, 500ER, 520N, and 530F

Matt Thurber

MD Helicopters-authorized service center Thoroughbred Aviation has completed the first MD500E to MD530F conversion at its Lexington, Kentucky base. The customer is the Cleveland, Ohio police department, and the conversion was the first of two that Thoroughbred is doing for that operator. Other MD network service centers can also offer the upgrade.
The conversion program upgrades the engine from the Rolls-Royce 250-C20B/R to the 250-C30 and adds longer main and tail rotor blades, a longer tail rotor driveshaft, tail rotor gearbox extension, modified tailboom, new vertical and horizontal stabilizers, and new cockpit instruments.
Resulting performance improvements include a 12% (350-pound) increase in maximum gross weight internal load and 6% (200-pound) increase in external load, with an additional 12% (198 pounds) of useful load. The new maximum gross weight is 3,350 pounds. Out-of-ground-effect hover climbs by 92% (5,500 feet).
“This achievement underscores our dedication to enhancing performance and accessibility through our MD network,” said MD Helicopters president Ryan Weeks. “Thoroughbred Aviation, a premier authorized service center, is playing a pivotal role in this effort, and we are excited to expand the availability of E-to-F upgrades. Demand for such upgrades is strong, and several more performance upgrades will be certified and released throughout 2025 for the MD500D, MD500E, and MD520N.”

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

First MD500E to MD530F Helicopter Conversion Completed by Thoroughbred Aviation

Upgrade is available at MD Helicopters service centers

Performance improvements from MD 500E to MD 530F conversion include a 12% (350-pound increase) in max gross weight internal load & 6% increase in external load.

First MD500E to MD530F Helicopter Conversion Done

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Chad Trautvetter

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Commercial shipments nearly doubled, while new military program brought in more than $80M

Bell Soars in 3Q with Higher Civil Helo Deliveries, FLRAA

Charles Alcock

Japan General Aviation Service is already a customer for the larger 429 model

Bell Appoints Japanese Dealer for 505 Helicopter

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Plan will help ensure long-term job stability for Portugal workforce

Avincis Strengthens Portugal Helicopter MRO Base

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Twin-engine aircraft will be based at Broome in Western Australia

PHI Adds H175s to Australian Energy Support Fleet

Kits are retrofittable to 429s with existing single- or dual-hook systems

Onboard Talon Dual Cargo Hook Approved in Bell 429

ORRA encourages helicopter companies to go beyond traditional risk management

Operators Enrolling in VAI Risk Accreditation Program

News and information on safety procedures and concerns.

In this article

MD 500 Series

MD Helicopters

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Bell Soars in 3Q with Higher Civil Helo Deliveries, FLRAA

Commercial shipments nearly doubled, while new military program brought in more than $80M

Bell Appoints Japanese Dealer for 505 Helicopter

Japan General Aviation Service is already a customer for the larger 429 model

Avincis Strengthens Portugal Helicopter MRO Base

Plan will help ensure long-term job stability for Portugal workforce

PHI Adds H175s to Australian Energy Support Fleet

Twin-engine aircraft will be based at Broome in Western Australia

Onboard Talon Dual Cargo Hook Approved in Bell 429

Kits are retrofittable to 429s with existing single- or dual-hook systems

Operators Enrolling in VAI Risk Accreditation Program

ORRA encourages helicopter companies to go beyond traditional risk management

FAA Issues Special Airworthiness Cert for Skyryse One

Single-flight-control user interface makes helicopter flying safer and easier

Blade Helo Shuttle Service Returns to 2024 NBAA-BACE

Helicopter flights will be available to transport attendees between the Las Vegas Convention Center and Henderson Executive Airport

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