McDonnell Douglas MD900 ExplorerThis is a featured page

After the withdrawal of the Aerospatiale SA330 Puma the Air Support Unit of the Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie (now Federale Politie/Police Federale) had a requirement for a twin-engined medium size helicopter (twin-engined as the aircraft had to be operated over urban areas). The aircraft had to be equipped with special observation equipment and cleared for night operations.
The aircraft selected was the McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer that was equipped with a NOTAR or 'NO TAil Rotor' system.

G10 c/n 900/0034 ex N91960 (testregistration) Callsign OT-GIA
  • 010796: registered N91960 to First Security Bank NA Trustee, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • 210197: Delivery at Melsbroek in Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie colorscheme
  • 110297: Officially taken on charge
  • 100804: First noted at Aviation Technics, Teuge (the Netherlands) for repaint in new Federal Police colorscheme
  • 031004: First noted in Federale Politie/Police Federale colorscheme
  • current: Active with Air Support Unit, Melsbroek

McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer - Belgian Military Aircraft Database
Melsbroek 200202 - Photo Daniel Brackx

G11 c/n 900/0045 ex N92047 (testregistration) Callsign OT-GIB
  • 000096: year of construction
  • 250697: registered N92047 to First Security Bank NA Trustee, Salt Lake City, Utah
  • 120897: Delivery at Melsbroek in Rijkswacht/Gendarmerie colorscheme
  • 130899: Damaged by bullits during a chase of two bankrobbers who just robbed the BBL Bankagency at Ransart (Charleroi). The helicopter was hit in the tail and the vertical stabilisor
  • 070304: First noted at Aviation Technics, Teuge (the Netherlands) for repaint in new Federal Police colorscheme
  • 180504: First noted in Federale Politie/Police Federale colorscheme
  • current: Active with Air Support Unit, Melsbroek

MD9001
Photo Jean-Marie Hanon

G12 c/n 900/0038 ex N91997 (testregistraton) Callsign OT-GIC
  • 000096: year of construction
  • 290399: registered N91997 First Security Bank NA Trustee, 79 S Main Str, Salt Lake City UT84111-1901, Utah.
  • 040701: arrival at MD Support Center NV, Houthalen, Belgium (crated)
  • 230701: first flight after assembly
  • 230701: Delivery at Melsbroek (white cs)
  • 000801: cancelled as N91997
  • 190302: first noted in new Federale Politie/Police Federale colorscheme
  • 050308: While Federal Police McDonnell Douglas MD900 Explorer G-12 was pursuing a car with two gangsters which had robbed the Record Bank at Ronse one of them opened the sun-roof and fired several shots at the helicopter with an AK-47 Kalashnikov gun and a 9mm pistol. Fortunately no-one was hurt in the attack and already sometime later one of the gangsters was apprehended in the Brussels borough of Sint-Joost-ten-Node.
  • current: Active with Air Support Unit, Melsbroek

MD9002
Photo Jean-Marie Hanon




1990-2009 - Belgian Military Aircraft Database



LaurentH
LaurentH 		Latest page update: made by LaurentH , Mar 8 2008, 2:56 PM EST (about this update About This Update LaurentH Edited by LaurentH

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Keyword tags: Air Support Unit Federal Police Federale Politie Gendarmerie Luchtsteundetachement McDonnell Douglas MD900 Melsbroek NOTAR Police Federale Rijkswacht
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