Md Helicopters Md 600n vs Md Helicopters Md 902 Exlplorer vs Robinson Helicopters R44 Raven Ii
The MD Helicopters MD 600N and MD 902 Explorer are typically positioned as light twin/NOTAR (600N is single‑engine with NOTAR; 902 is twin‑engine) turbine utility helicopters, while the Robinson R44 Raven II is a lighter, piston‑engine helicopter commonly used for training, personal transport, and light commercial work. In passenger capacity, the R44 Raven II generally seats four total (pilot plus three passengers). The MD 600N is usually configured for about five to six seats depending on interior and mission fit. The MD 902 Explorer commonly offers the most cabin flexibility of the three and is often configured around seven to eight seats, also varying with layout and equipment. For range, the R44 Raven II and MD 600N are often in a broadly similar “few hundred nautical miles” class depending heavily on fuel configuration, reserves, and payload, with the 600N tending to offer stronger turbine performance margins. The MD 902 Explorer frequently provides comparable or better operational range than the 600N in typical configurations, but real‑world legs depend strongly on mission equipment, fuel options, and operating profile.
| Spec | MD Helicopters MD 600N | MD Helicopters MD 902 Exlplorer | ROBINSON R44 Raven II |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summary | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — |
| DOC / nm | $ 4.06 | $ 7.54 | $ 2.36 |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Flight Rules | VFR | VFR | VFR |
| Manufacturer | MD Helicotpers | MD Helicotpers | Robinson Helicopters |
| Aircraft Name | MD 600N | MD 902 Exlplorer | R44 Raven II |
| Certification | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA | FAA / EASA |
| Max Range (nm) | 341 | 317 | 300 |
| DOC / nm / Seat | $ 0.68 | $ 0.94 | $ 0.59 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | — |
| OEM Verification | Un-Verified | Un-Verified | Un-Verified |
| Useful Load (lbs) | 2000 | 3125 | 995 |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | — |
| Direct Operating Cost | $ 545 | $ 988 | $ 257 |
| Flight Deck (Base Spec) | Gyro / Analog | Garmin G500H | Gyro / Analog |
| Max Cruise Speed (ktas) | 134 | 131 | 109 |
| Base Aircraft Price (USD) | $3,400,000 | $7,250,000 | $ 490,000 |
| Cabin | |||
| Cockpit | 2 | 2 | — |
| Min Crew | 1 | 1 | — |
| Total Seats | 6 | 8 | 4 |
| Max Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | — |
| Standard Cabin Seats | 5 | 6 | — |
| Engine | |||
| FADEC | No | No | No |
| Model | 250-C47 | PW207E | IO-540 |
| Fuel Type | JetFuel | JetFuel | AvGas |
| TBO (hrs) | 2000 | 4000 | 2200 |
| Horsepower | 715 | 710 | 245 |
| No. of Engines | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Fuel Burn (gph) | 41 | 65 | — |
| Fuel Capacity (gal) | 118 | 159 | 29.5 |
| TBO (yrs) | — | — | 12 |
| Fuel Delivery | — | — | Fuel Injected |
| Dimensions | |||
| Length (ft) | 36.9 | 40.6 | 38.3 |
| Overall Height (ft) | 9.7 | 12 | 10.8 |
| Rotor Diameter (ft) | 27.5 | 33.9 | 33 |
| Baggage Volume Int. (cu. ft) | — | — | 2.5 |