Kaman K-MAX

Infobox Aircraft
name=K-MAX


caption= A HELOG Heliswiss Kaman K-Max
type=Medium lift helicopter
manufacturer=Kaman Aircraft
designer=
first flight=
introduced=
retired=
status=Active
primary user=
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produced=
number built=38+
unit cost=
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The Kaman K-MAX (also known as the K-1200) is an American helicopter with intermeshing rotors built by Kaman Aircraft. It is optimized for external load operations.

Development

This helicopter uses the functional principles of the Flettner Fl 282 "Kolibri" developed in Germany during World War II by Anton Flettner who joined the Kaman company after the war (Operation Paperclip).

Known as a synchropter, there are two main rotors, which are mounted side-by-side. Each rotor is angled away from the other, and they counter-rotate, thus intermeshing and providing not only lift, but also countering the torque of the other rotor. All of the engine power goes toward lift, with no parasitic loss to power a secondary torque rotor, as found in conventional helicopters. The power transmission and control systems are thus simpler, as well. Control is through the use of servo-flaps mounted on the trailing edge of each rotor. The arrangement also makes for extremely quiet operation compared to other helicopters.Fact|date=July 2008

The K-MAX series are the latest in a long line of Kaman synchropters, the most famous of which is the HH-43 Huskie. The first turbine-powered helicopter was also a synchropter.

The K-1200 K-MAX "aerial truck" is the world's first helicopter specifically designed, tested and certified for repetitive external lift operations and vertical reference flight, an important feature for external load work. Other rotorcraft used for these tasks are adapted from general-purpose helicopters, or those intended to primarily carry passengers or internal cargo. The aircraft's narrow, wedge-shaped profile gives the pilot an unprecedented view of the load looking out either side of the aircraft.

The K-MAX relies on the two primary advantages of synchopters over conventional helicopters. The first of these is the most efficiency of any rotor-lift technology, the other is the synchropter's natural tendency to hover. This increases stability, especially for precision work in placing suspended loads. At the same time, the synchropter is more responsive to pilot control inputs, making it easily possible to swing a load thus to scatter seed, chemicals or water over a larger area.

For hazardous missions, an unmanned remote-control version of the K-MAX is planned, the K-MAX Unmanned Multi-Mission Helicopter. It could be used in combat situations to deliver supplies to the battlefield, as well as civilian situations involving chemical, biological or radiological hazards.

A total of 38 K-1200 K-MAX helicopters are known to have been built, of which 13 are unflyable or have been written off in accidents to date (May 2008).

Operators

;AUT: Wucher Helikopter;CAN: MacKenzie Heli Services, HeliQwest, ;COL
* Colombian National Army Aviation;JPN: Kyokuto Boeki (Japan Royal Helicopter), Akagi Helicopter;KOR: Lucky Air;LIE: ROTEX;SUI: Eagle Helicopter, Helog Heliswiss;USA: Mountain West, Woody Contracting, Superior Helicopter, Timberline Helicopters, Rainier Heli-Lift

Specifications (K-MAX)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=copter
jet or prop?=prop

ref={www.kamanaero.com} [cite web
url= http://www.kamanaero.com/helicopters/kmax/performanceandspecs.html
title= K-MAX Performance and Specs
last=
first=
date=
accessdate= 2007-01-14
work=
publisher= ]
crew= 1
capacity= 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) external load
length main= 51 ft 10 in
length alt= 15.8 m
span main= 48 ft 3 in
span alt= 14.7m
height main= 13 ft 7 in
height alt= 4.14 m
area main=
airfoil=
empty weight main= 5,145 lb
empty weight alt= 2,334 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main= 6,855 lb
useful load alt= 3,109 kg
max takeoff weight main= 12,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 5,443 kg
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engine (prop)= Honeywell T53-17
type of prop= turboshaft
number of props=1
power main= 1,800 shp
power alt=
power original=
max speed main= 100 knots
max speed alt= 185.2 km/h
cruise speed main= 80 knots
cruise speed alt= 148.2 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 267 nm
range alt= 494.5 km
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
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loading main=
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ee also

aircontent
related=
* HH-43 Huskie

similar aircraft=
* Kamov Ka-226

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References

External links

* [http://www.kamanaero.com/helicopters/kmax.html Kaman Aerospace's K-MAX page]
* [http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2008/0605si-kmax.html June 5, 2008 press release of demonstration to US Army] , retrieved 2008-07-26.
* [http://avia.russian.ee/helicopters_eng/kaman_max.php Excellent picture and description]
* [http://www.markusherzig.com/kmax/ Superior Helicopter K-MAX with Firemax system]
* [http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0261570 Austrian Wucher Helikopter]