Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia


A Kaman K-1200 from Rotex aviation
Role	Medium lift helicopter
Manufacturer	Kaman Aircraft
First flight	December 23, 1991
Status	Production ended, in service
Produced	1991–2003, 2015–2023

Developed during the 1980s and 1990s, the K-MAX builds on the work of the German aeronautical engineer Anton Flettner. Performing its maiden flight on December 23, 1991, it was specially designed to optimally perform external cargo load operations and is capable of lifting payloads in excess of 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg), which is greater than the helicopter's empty weight and almost twice as much as the competing Bell 205 despite sharing a similar engine. Being a synchropter, it has greater efficiency in comparison to conventional rotor technology. In addition to airlifting external loads, specialised configurations for aerial firefighting and casualty evacuation have been developed. It was produced for both military and civilian operators.

The Kaman K-MAX (company designation K-1200) is a helicopter with intermeshing rotors (synchropter) designed and produced by the American manufacturer Kaman Aircraft.

Design and development

Origins

Background

In 1947, the German aeronautical engineer Anton Flettner was brought to the United States as part of Operation Paperclip. He was the developer of the two earlier synchropter designs from Germany during the Second World War: the Flettner Fl 265 which pioneered the synchropter layout, and the slightly later Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri ("Hummingbird"), intended for eventual production. Both designs used the principle of counter-rotating side-by-side intermeshing rotors, as the means to solve the problem of torque compensation, normally countered in single–rotor helicopters by a tail rotor, fenestron, NOTAR, or vented blower exhaust, which can use 10-25% of the engine power. Flettner remained in the United States and became the chief designer of the Kaman company. In this capacity, he designed numerous new helicopters that used the Flettner double rotor. .

Kaman Aerospace

Kaman Aerospace
Kaman K1200 K-Max

General Info

Crew: 1
Capacity:

6,000 lb (2,722 kg) external load at ISA +15 °C (59.0 °F) at sea level
5,663 lb (2,569 kg) external load at ISA +15 °C (59.0 °F) at (1,524 m)

Length: 52 ft (16 m) rotors running
Length of fuselage: (12.73 m)
Width: (15.67 m) with rotors running
Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m) to centreof hubs

Powerplant

Powerplant: 1 × Honeywell T5317A-1 turboshaft engine, 1,350 shp (1,010 kW) flat rated for take-off up to ~(8,839 m) to increase transmission life Transmission rated to 1,500 shp) Main rotor diameter: 2 × 48 ft 4 in (14.73 m)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 190 km/h) clean

80 kn (92 mph; 148 km/h) with external load

Range: 300 nmi (350 mi, 560 km) with max load
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
Hover ceiling IGE: 26,300 ft (8,016 m) at 6,000 lb (2,722 kg) AUW, ISA
Rate of climb: 2,500 ft/min (13 m/s) at Sea Level with flat-rated torque

Related development

- Kamov Ka-26
- Kamov Ka-226

Special Links Aeromacchi Leonardo

Links to Youtube & Others

The UH-2 entered operational service with the USN in 1962. The single engine greatly restricted performance. Kaman was ordered to convert all of the Seasprites to a twin-engine configuration. The upgraded helicopters had a 130 knots (240 km/h) airspeed and a 411 nautical miles (761 km) operating range.[2] The USN operated nearly 200 Seasprites in multiple roles, including ASW, SAR, and utility transport.[

Kaman Aerospace
Kaman K1200 K-Max

During the late 1990s, the United States decided to offer the surplus U.S. Navy SH-2Fs as foreign aid to a number of overseas countries

Youtube Link

During the late 1990s, the United States decided to offer the surplus U.S. Navy SH-2Fs as foreign aid to a number of overseas countries

Kaman Corporation aerospace
Kaman K1200 K-Max