Distinctive sharp-nosed multipane canopy, glass to deck; irregular large windows in each of four doors. Earlier Hughes models had a rounded nose, but similar door-window treatment. Later 500 and 530 models have a T-tail horizontal stabilizer above the tail rotor. The long slim boom is fully faired into the fuselage.

Widely seen as a commuter carrier and executive aircraft in the United States. Versions of the basic MD 500 are in military service in several foreign countries, marketed with TOW missile mounts as the "Defender." The earlier Hughes 500 was the U.S. Army's OH-6 "Cayuse."