Back Revolution Helicopter Mini-500
1992

Revolution Helicopter Mini-500

In 1994 Revolution Helicopters of Excelsior Springs, Missouri announced their kit-built Mini-500. This single-seater could easily be mistaken for a scaled-down Hughes 500D with its egg-shaped fuselage pod, slim tailboom and T-tail. The Mini-500 is powered by a 67hp Rotax 582 engine and over 350 kits have been sold, with examples flying in Holland, South Africa and Brazil as well as substantial numbers in the United States.

R.Simpson "Airlife's Helicopter and Rotorcraft", 1998

Revolution Helicopter Mini-500

TYPE: Single-seat home-built helicopter.

PROGRAMME: Scale-replica design of McDonnell Douglas MD-500; first flown in 1992 and available in kit form until production ceased in October 1999. Assembly in 60-70 hours, excluding body work and painting.

VERSIONS:

Mini-500B Bravo: Initial production version.

Mini-500T Talon: Production version from 1999 incorporating latest improvements.

CUSTOMERS: More than 500 kits delivered by October 1999.

COSTS: Kit: US$32,000.

DESIGN FEATURES: Two-blade semi-rigid teetering main rotor, turning at 550 rpm, constructed using aluminium alloy spars and composite skins. Teetering two-blade tail rotor of aluminium alloy and steel construction, turning at 2,671 rpm. Rubber insulators, flex-packs and counterbalances for vibration damping.

STRUCTURE: Welded steel tube structure, with moulded glass fibre cabin enclosure. Twin skid landing gear.

POWER PLANT: One 50kW Rotax 582, with belt drive to transmission. Fuel capacity 55.6 litres. Transmission rating 40kW at take-off and 82kW capacity. Power enhancement package (PEP) with tuned exhaust system and special carburetion settings developed, producing 18% more power during take-off and landing phases.

Jane's Helicopter Markets and Systems

Technical data for Mini-500

Engine: 1 x Rotax 582 rated at 49.3kW, main rotor diameter: 5.84m, length: 6.85m, height: 2.51m, take-off weight: 379kg, empty weight: 219kg, max speed: 185km/h, cruising speed: 120km/h

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Mark J, e-mail, 14.04.2009reply

Today I found part of a Mini-500 on the side of the interstate in Stevens Point, WI. If you lost this part I have it in my hangar at KSTE airport. E-mail me and identify the part.

Gerard Brinkert, e-mail, 11.03.2009reply

FOR SALE Mini-500 with 75Hp Electronically Fuel Injected Wankel Rotary Aircraft Engine

Look at the pictures, I’m flying my Mini-500 helicopter, with the standard Rotax 67Hp engine. (Engine overhaul time for 67 Hp Rotax 350 hours!!) But replaced the 2 stroke Rotax engine for a brand new 75 Hp Electronically Fuel Injected Wankel Rotary Aircraft Engine, with 2 rotors (LCR-814 TG ti). (Engine overhaul time for 75 Hp Wankel 2000 hours!!)

I have spend two years to complete this beautiful homebuilt helicopter. The Mini-500 Helicopter is 99,9% ready at this moment. You have to finish 0,1% (only assembling the rotor head). We have all the parts for it. This Mini-500 has only 18 hours on bodywork, but: 0 hours on Engine, 0 hours on Main-rotor blades, 0 hours on Tail-rotor blades, 0 hours on the Main-gearbox, 0 hours on the tail-gearbox, and 0 hours on all other metal components, including Mainframe, tail boom etz. This helicopter is new, except for the fibreglass body. Also with Journal-book, Engine-book, Fly diary-book.

Instruments - Mini-500 Helicopter;
Air Speed---Vertical Speed---Altimeter--- Rotor /Engine Tachometer---Hobbs Quartz Hours Meter---Hamilton Vertical Compass---2 EGT---Engine Coolant Temp---Engine Power Indicator (0 /100%)--- Chip lights warning for Main and Tail gear box--- Fuel flow instrument---Oil pomp (main transmission)--- ICOM VHF-Radio + Headset--- Low Rotor Alarm--- Throttle Correlation--- Navigation and Landing Light--- Electric Starter--- Ground Handling Wheels--- Removable Cabin-Access Doors.

This Helicopter, Probably the only one in the world with a reliable Rotary Engine with a totally purchase price of 45.000,00 euro,
will be fore the highest bidder above 25.000,00 euro.

Look at;
YouTube - The Revolution Mini-500 Helicopter Gerard Brinkert

Aye Htun, e-mail, 08.03.2009reply

I seriously want this kind of mini helicopter. I have been search this kind of helicopter for many years ago. I live in australia. I wanna buy this. So, where should i contact and to whom i should contact. the above is my email address. If you contact with phone, here is my temporay phone for only one months in malaysa. here is 60173061083. if you contact with a couple of weeks, better contact to this phone... pls reply me...
i wanna know the price, speed and capacity of helicopter.
thanks
Yours,
Aye Htun

mako, e-mail, 25.01.2009reply

Buying second-hand MINI-500 helicopter. China

Drew Case, e-mail, 23.01.2009reply

Hello everyone, I am in the US army looking to buy a mini 500.if there are any sellers, please contact me.

mako, e-mail, 22.01.2009reply

I would like to MINI-500, from China. Buy

dan waldrop, e-mail, 09.01.2009reply

I have a 1993 corvette Id like to trade for a mini 500

500flyer, 05.01.2009reply

Southwind Helicopters on barnstormers has support and parts. Contact them through barnstormers. I got great support and some good parts from them...they have become a NEW distributor for the 500, they seem to be the "go to guys" if you need parts and support to get your 500 flying. Great shop facilities too. When I was there they had a 500 flying and doing all the manuvers one would expect, and the guy who owned the 500 was very happy with thier help.

andru, e-mail, 04.01.2009reply

Anyone selling mini 500 tail rotor blade? I need a pair either new or used.

Gábor Farkas, e-mail, 17.12.2008reply

Hello my name is Gábor Farkas from Hungary (Middle-Europe).

I want to buy One seater Mini 500. I anyone can offer me or know about an actual mini 500 offer from 5000$ to 15000$ please inform me.

Thanks for you.

Michael Prentler, e-mail, 14.12.2008reply

Hello all; I have read several times to comply with the mandatory service bulletins (A.D.'s) sent by Revolution to owners of their helicopter to make it safer, but I haven't seen the actual bulletins posted: Can someone post a list of all of the reccomended upgrades to the Mini-500, so I can inspect a prospective purchase to make sure that the upgrades have been completed and installed? I have read from several postings on other sites from Dennis Fetters about 4 mandatory upgrades, but then he doesn't go on to say what they are. Thanks.

Dai viet, e-mail, 12.12.2008reply

Hi all,
I'm looking for part # for drive belt(# print on the belt).
any help would help.
thaku, merry chrismax

Blake, e-mail, 08.12.2008reply

looking to buy a Mini 500, located in Missouri. Please email if looking to sale.

Big D, e-mail, 05.12.2008reply

I've known Dennis Fetters for 30 years, he's not perfect but who is. Good Luck Dennis in your future....

Soeren, e-mail, 03.12.2008reply

Hello. can you help me!. Where I can buy a new owner's manuel for my Mini 500 Helicopter s /n 0287. Yours sincerely Soeren

Jim, e-mail, 30.11.2008reply

I am selling an unassembled Mini 500 for the current owner. If interested please email me at lennysrv1@yahoo.com and I will be happy to fill you in on all the details and particulars of the offering. Thanks.

Francois, e-mail, 15.11.2008reply

Don,

You are dead wrong as well, there are many guy's out there, with stock M-500B's, that read and obeyed the factory AD's and SB's, that are now successfully flying their Mini's, with the 582 powerplant.

Yes, Dennis is in Corona, and is available to help any "non-judgemental" Mini-500 owner with advice on their machine.

Francois, e-mail, 15.11.2008reply

Erik,

You forgot to mention you have a Mini-500A available. There is a big difference between the original Alpha, and the sorted out Beta, with all mandatory upgrades fitted.

Francois, e-mail, 15.11.2008reply

Scott K, you are dead wrong !! Contact Southwind Helicopters, or look them up on Barnstormers. They fly stock Mini-500B's, with all and only the factory approved upgrades, 582 powered. NO HASSLES. All the BS you guy's are spewing, is due to your own stupidity in building, assembly, set-up, whatever you want to call it. Do you even own one? Yes, guy's killed themselves, due to RHCI making it TOO CHEAP! Guy's with too much money, and some with no brains, were buying them on a friday, assembling them on a saturday, and flying them on a sunday type thing. No heli experience, no proper inspection or tracking. I'm surprised not more people got killed.

10 years after all the negative publicity, there are a stack of guys out there, quitely flying and enjoying their Mini-500's. It's only loadmouths like you that keep on spreading misinformation.

The only problem is to be able to determine what the status is of the machines for sale out there. If you buy one without the factory mandated AD's or SB's, you are looking for trouble. In it's mandatory upgraded state, it's a winner. Buying one without upgrades, don't waste your time, you won't find the upgrades anywhere!!

Don Hillberg, e-mail, 12.11.2008reply

Fetters is alive and well in Corona Ca,at the airport,The Mini 500 was a death trap killing even the high time pilots,Look else where to find somthing better.You all have no clue to what its about,,,Dream on...

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