• Twin-engined ‘flying crane’ • Single-seater • Intermeshed rotors
harles Kaman launched his helicopter company in 1945 when he was 26 years old. The K-MAX is the latest product from this now elderly trailblazer. The last living aviation pioneer of the 20th century, Kaman’s principal contribution was the intermeshing rotor arrangement that dispenses with the need for a tail rotor. This arrangement is used on the K-MAX, known as the ‘aerial truck’, a machine capable of lifting almost 3 tonnes.
Kaman K-MAX
Sales in Europe ^
Helog of Switzerland became the first European K-MAX operator in May 1995. when this colourful example was delivered. Others have boon delivered to Franco and Sweden.
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◄ Versatility
Without a tail rotor, tv K-MAX is able to manoeuvre into tight spots otherwise inaccessible to conventional holicopter designs.
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A Slim profile
In this view of a Helog aircraft with an understung toad, the slim frontal profile of the design is seen. Angled cockpit windows give the pilot an oxcellont view.
A Connecticut factory
Pilots are trained using ex-military Kaman HH-43F Huskie helicopters. H-43s have a similar Intermeshing rotor system.
◄ Prototype N3182T
In December 1991 the first K-MAX took to the air. This aircraft consisted of the basic airframe structure without a tailplane and fins.
> The K-MAX was originally known as MMIRA (pronounced ‘Myra’) for Multi – Mission Intermeshing Rotor Aircraft.
► The US Navy evaluated the type for uso In resupplying warships at sea.
>■ In 1996 the price for one of theso
helicopters was S3.5 million.
The K-MAX was the first helicopter structurally designed for repetitive external lift operations.
>• Production rate at Kaman’s Connecticut factory in 1996 was six per year.
► Kaman claims a 20-year life for K-MAX1* airframe, at 1,000 hours per year.
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K-MAX
Type: • йоді…-soar external mi «ttermcsTung-rotor helicopter
Powerplant: one i 18-Kvv (i. soo-hp.) AJi>odSignal T53-17A-1 turboehaft flat ruled to 1007kW(t.350hp.)
Maximum speed: ’85 Km/h pi5 m. p.h) clean; 148Km/h(Wrnpnj wanoxtomal load
Service ceiling: 7620 m (25.000 ft.) at 2722 kg <6.000 to.) weight m standard atmospheric (ISA) conditions
Weights: operating empty 2132 kg (4,690 lb), maximum take-otf 2721 kg (6.000 lb,) without lettisonaWe load. 5216 kg (11.475 lb.) with oxtornn) load
Dimensions:
rotor dameier (each) 14 73 m (48 ft. 4 m j length overall 15.85 m (52 ft.)
wheel track 3.56 m (1 1 It. 8 In.)
whodbaso 4.11 m (13 ft 6 In )
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GttM-fer» rwnfcrcbrt ptasbc (GFBP) and carbcnAbm ‘or Ay coo plastic ICFRP) am ueea n ігю conarucocn of tho iota ttxtes and mbs. hy Otrength and itjhtrxea. Uko tho гтааЯЬ mgnt (wt«n is dcsigmxl with a t&QOOhOUr Ido with о 1.500 hour Wnu UrtvAicri ovwitodfl. tfmso lev (Maned to nave a itwiwn mairtonanco nxjveonwnt. trvl themtam sawyi m npef. it, ng emir.
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A niurow tuMiUjn and eockpd moons that mo K-MAX e a soglo-sea! orcratt tho prior fxts «і un vnpoct absorbing scat wtiii a fs^yomt lumoss. Thr K-MAX was afso dosgned lor unmnnood rado contifttcU » coot abort n ішлггіснм VconoKra
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in* К MAX Л HUt lo m more man J? tonne* on its single tmdrr lusntago hook, monk* to an dewqn – nhch make* a hgtiw propomcn of the дгстЛк *ngme power available lor Wimp A iTuiunuti Tutelage means mat <kma ta kept to a mrtmim
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Согі£!Г’г-.!ЄП ol Hjfll utoy. mo K-MAX і urTreno я both Hjht anu Tho IM iwfxsmuV vwtfts 36 3 Vy ISO Ь і and can be f ‘•mewod r, y iwo poopk;
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A wnocfcx) iricycto undorcamago ® м footuro of tfw К MAX and faoMalee ground manoeuvring. Рею! Operated br. wcg arO standard A Ixrar kjW plain 5tf. around etch wfiod kr oporntiprtt iront soft ground
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iJiK’lj;!
Co. npa»»d wflii Pm fZL W-3A jrxJ Bro
T*-.n T*t> Гл«Кчі
mr lotto, a cr. il rtira. cn Ol mtitaiy UH IN, tfw K-MAX he a то<з«г coner rating ol iirtl ovei 400 MW WiOellie W-3A and Inin Tne-TntM, t ivne того powertui
on(>r«e tlyry curr-r the o»lia лч-jiil ol a hcm. y ‘лладі
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Logging by K-MAX
OPERATION ROANOKE: As pan of Kaman’s »*• tw. iing, iwo pilots from logging helicopter ЧЖга1’1 ‘ooh part m a five-day tost in Wginia
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SUCCESS: Onfy 90 minutes of unschodiriod mamtonanco was nxxnmd aftor tho test. Kaman claims that, at a rate of 30 return logging sorties per hour, tho K-MAX will have an airframe Me of 20.000 fight hours
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MARCH 1994 TEST: Selectively cut trees over an area Ы
162000 m (531.360 sg. tl.) of inaccessible niHsxJe were fcttod out in 40 hours of operaixxis in sub-zero temperatures
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Kamov
