MD Helicopters (MDHI) has selected Kaman Aerospace to supply composite rotor blade systems for the Explorer twin turbine. The five-blade rotor systems, manufactured at Kaman's Bloomfield, Connecticut base, will deliver one shipset a week, from early next year.
The "multi-year" agreement, valued at $75 million, is the second contract awarded by MDHI to Kaman in under four months. The earlier $100 million contract, awarded in April, covers the supply of fuselages for MDHIs MD600R and MD500 single-engine series helicopters. Mesa, Arizona-based MDHI has orders for 45 Explorers.
Source: Flight International
