Serving perhaps as a testament to the current strength of the world helicopter market, engine maker Rolls-Royce (Booth No. 1917) is celebrating the delivery of its 30,000th Model 250. This particular engine, a Model 250-C30HU, was installed in an MD Helicopters Model 530F. Approximately 16,000 Model 250s remain in service, according to the company. For more than four decades the Model 250 has been a leading powerplant in most light single turbine helicopters, including the Hughes/MD 500 series and the Bell 206.
Another milestone that served to underscore the health of its business was Rolls-Royce’s announcement that it received FAA certification of its 300-shp Model RR300, a derivative of the Model 250, in December. The RR300 has a single-stage centrifugal compressor and fewer parts than the Model 250. The RR300 is expected to have a 2,000-hour TBO, thanks in part to a lower takeoff rating and lower turbine temperatures.
