MESA, Ariz., Sept. 19 /PRNewswire/ A planned program to enhance the
performance of the MD 600N helicopter, the newest rotorcraft from The
Boeing Company, is proceeding at top speed. The aircraft enhancements are
scheduled for completion this year.

Chief among them is an increase in the relationship between the
helicopter's maximum gross weight and the altitude at which it will safely
land and take off. The aircraft was certificated by the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) earlier this year for takeoffs and landings from sea
level to 1,700 feet (518 meters) at a maximum weight of 4,100 pounds (1860
kilograms). The company is nearing completion of testing that will allow
the relationship to grow to 7,000 feet (2134 meters) in altitude at 3,800
pounds (1724 kilograms), or greater.

Other recent enhancements allow operators to fly the helicopter with its
doors off at up to 115 knots, operate at temperatures up to 52 C (126 F)
and lift up to 2,134 pounds (969 kilograms) on its external cargo hook.
The aircraft also has been certified for slope landings up to 10 degrees in
any direction.

Other certification tests are under way that will:

permit operations in temperatures down to minus 30 C (minus 22 F);

enable the helicopter to use emergency floats;

make possible the use of special executive seats in the rear cabin;

operate with an air conditioner; and

add the extra safety of wire strike protection to the fuselage.

Additionally, the aircraft will complete highintensity radio frequency
(HIRF) testing at the Patuxent River Naval Test Center in Maryland next
month.

This testing will ensure that the helicopter's electronic components are
protected from powerful radio waves often emanating from groundmounted
radio antennas. The HIRF tests are critical for aircraft operating in
Europe's crowded airspace.

Since receiving FAA certification earlier this summer, the company has
delivered three MD 600Ns to customers in the United States, Europe and
Africa. Another 20 are scheduled for delivery by yearend. The company
recently announced a sale of 45 MD 600Ns to the United States Border
Patrol, which will use the helicopters in drug interdiction operations and
to curb illegal entry along the southern U.S. border.

The MD 600N is a larger, more powerful version of the company's MD 500
series. It operates with the NOTAR(R) system for antitorque and
directional control. The system eliminates the conventional tail rotor,
making the aircraft safer, quieter and easier to fly.