Apex Heli-Support welcomed nearly 200 MD500 owners, operators, maintainers, and industry partners to Wickenburg, Arizona, for its third-annual MD500 Fly-In — a multi-day event focused on training, technical knowledge-sharing, and strengthening one of the helicopter industry’s tightest-knit communities.
From in-depth seminars and recurrency ground school to precision flight training led by Eagle West Helicopter Services, the 2025 fly-in blended hands-on learning with meaningful connection.
Go inside the event to see how Apex Heli-Support and its partners continue to support MD500 safety, expertise, and community.
🎥 Joe Bradshaw Shotover footage courtesy of Josh Metzger @joshmetzger
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AI Generated·May contain errors
We're here today at the fly-in in Wickenburg. This is our third year and by putting on these fly-ins
our goal is to promote the industry, support all the people that work within it, and keep the MD
platform up at the pinnacle of helicopter needs, especially in the civilian market.
I'm Hugh Mills. I'm a retired Army aviator. I'm the author of the book Low Level Hell,
which is the story of my first tour in Vietnam, 1969, as a scout pilot flying the 086 Cayuse.
I actually flew this aircraft in 1972 as the commander of the outcast Aeroscouts
in the 16th Cavalry and this was one of our aircraft. It's been restored by Little Bird
LLC in Santa Teresa, New Mexico and is probably the finest restored 086 I've ever seen. It's just
fantastic. Here we are 1,300 miles from Chicago to here and it was an amazing trip.
My name is Chris Nelson. I own the Quiet One. This is the aircraft that did the mission in Vietnam
that ended the war. 1965 model. A CIA or Air America took it from the U.S. Army and they spent
some time doing some testing on it and they developed the special engine system that basically
encapsulated the engine with a special baffle to quiet it and so that's why it came up with
the name the Quiet One. Well, what brought us here is the fact that it's a type-specific flying
for the MD helicopters. Tina and Darren just do Apex Aviation, do an excellent, outstanding job
putting on the event, the education we receive, the exhibitors. Everything is just top-notch
and it's well-founded information that everyone here needs to hear. It's wonderful.
