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Md Helicopters Md 600n vs Robinson Helicopters R66

The MD Helicopters MD 600N and the Robinson R66 are both light, single‑engine civil helicopters, but they target slightly different missions. The MD 600N is typically positioned as a light utility helicopter with a larger cabin and more emphasis on operational flexibility; it commonly seats a pilot plus up to five passengers, making it well suited to short‑haul utility, patrol, and light transport roles. The Robinson R66 is also a light single‑engine turbine helicopter, often chosen for personal, training, and light commercial use; it generally carries a pilot plus up to four passengers, trading some cabin volume for simplicity and operating economy. In range, both are designed for regional missions rather than long‑distance transport. Typical usable range for either aircraft is on the order of a few hundred nautical miles depending on fuel configuration, payload, and cruise settings. In practice, the R66 often delivers solid point‑to‑point capability for its class, while the 600N’s advantage is more about cabin capacity and utility than dramatically longer reach.

SpecMD Helicopters MD 600NROBINSON R66
Summary
Cockpit22
DOC / nm$ 4.06$ 3.49
Min Crew11
Total Seats65
Flight RulesVFRVFR
ManufacturerMD HelicotpersRobinson Helicopters
Aircraft NameMD 600NR66
CertificationFAA / EASAFAA / EASA
Max Range (nm)341350
DOC / nm / Seat$ 0.68$ 0.70
Max Cabin Seats5
OEM VerificationUn-VerifiedUn-Verified
Useful Load (lbs)20001355
Standard Cabin Seats53
Direct Operating Cost$ 545$ 384
Flight Deck (Base Spec)Gyro / AnalogGyro / Analog
Max Cruise Speed (ktas)134110
Base Aircraft Price (USD) $3,400,000 $ 920,000
Cabin
Cockpit22
Min Crew11
Total Seats65
Max Cabin Seats5
Standard Cabin Seats53
Engine
FADECNoNo
Model250-C47RR300
Fuel TypeJetFuelJetFuel
TBO (hrs)20002000
Horsepower715300
No. of Engines11
Fuel Burn (gph)41
Fuel Capacity (gal)11873.6
Dimensions
Length (ft)36.938.3
Overall Height (ft)9.711.4
Rotor Diameter (ft)27.533
Cabin Volume (cu. ft)50
Baggage Volume Ext. (cu. ft)18