When I was in 4th grade(Wendell, NC) a strange looking helicopter flew over town. It was from Seymour Johnson Air Force base in Goldsboro, NC. It had been called to rescue a painter that had fallen into our water tower. It was considered the only stable platform capable of lifting him out and to a hospital in Raleigh. I'll never forget see that helicopter with two rotors working it's magic.
I used to play in the Charlie Kaman Band. Mr. Kaman was quite a guitar player and almost went professional in the Jimmy Dorsey Band. He started Ovation Guitar. He and his wife started Fidelco, the dogs for blind people. He was quite a guy!
My Dad worked at Kaman in the early 60s ..worked on Husky and Seasprite ..Had fond memories of working there and Charlie Kaman...He went from there to Helio Aircraft in Bedford MA...
I didn't like flying the Kaman SH-2f Seasprite, very much. It had some good engineering points and some poor ones. If found that it was an excellent IFR flying helicopter for the Time. Trick was to use the electric drive trim frequently. The landing gear was excellent.
My father (Ralph Lee) Flew as a test pilot for Charlie in the late 50s early 60s. I remember him talking about winch downs at sea and altitude records with the Husky. I wish I had some footage of him during that time. He later became a salesman for Bell. As a kid I got a steady flow of model Helicopters to build.
I wonder just how much the 1947 Kaman design was influenced by the captured German Fletner helicopter that ended up in the USA after the war? czcams.com/video/cOP_-BcRMRY/video.html
In 1947 Kaman Aircraft as it was known then, was a small company operating out of an old gymnasium at Bradley Field Ct, and did not have access to any captured german engineering or data of any kind. The K-125 was developed as a crop duster independent of any US Military involvement. In fact all proposals to the US military were rejected until well after the K-125 and then the K-190 were already up and fully operational, so no, the Fletner helicopter had no influence on the Kaman design.
When I was in 4th grade(Wendell, NC) a strange looking helicopter flew over town. It was from Seymour Johnson Air Force base in Goldsboro, NC. It had been called to rescue a painter that had fallen into our water tower. It was considered the only stable platform capable of lifting him out and to a hospital in Raleigh. I'll never forget see that helicopter with two rotors working it's magic.
I used to play in the Charlie Kaman Band. Mr. Kaman was quite a guitar player and almost went professional in the Jimmy Dorsey Band. He started Ovation Guitar. He and his wife started Fidelco, the dogs for blind people. He was quite a guy!
Kaman makes the best helicopters.
My Dad worked at Kaman in the early 60s ..worked on Husky and Seasprite ..Had fond memories of working there and Charlie Kaman...He went from there to Helio Aircraft in Bedford MA...
I worked on quite a few Helios in the 1980s in southern California
LOVE those old Synchropters. I regret not buying a surplus Huskie when I had a chance 25 years ago.
Charles Kaman, aviation pioneer...
The real genius at Kaman was German engineer Anton Flettner
my dad worked at the factory when I was a lad. I am 66 now. He had a model kit of the Husky
I worked for Kaman 81-1986. Great memories in the old Moosup Ct. machine shop.
One US Navy Kaman Aviator flying the Sea sprite H2, did earn a Medal of Honor, for a rescue mission in Vietnam: Commander Clyde Lassen.
Amazing show of your guys' history. K-max for life as long as a better looking one comes out. Maybe even a pusher prop.
Pusher prop my dream, just like the Sud-Ouest Djinn.
Wonderful video..
I lived in Windsor, a mile from the plant.
New Zealand Navy still operates the SH-2G so get to hear its unique sound from time to time.
So does the polish navy!
Excellent Video !!!
Wonderful video! Very little material out there om the K-1125. This was extremely interesting to see!
atacar
Beautiful !
Thanks, I loved watching this.
Awesome to see some of his earlier models
Great video 👍 thanks for sharing!
Wonderful ! 👍
Exatamente 🌟👏
Kaman made very advanced helicopters, why are they not being released.
Special thanks to Anton Flettner for developing of intermeshing rotors.😁
nice sir
Great video. The H-43A segment beginning @2:58 looks to me like H-43Fs
Why did the syncro copters disappear?
Love the video.
The KMAX is still around for it's heavy lift capability, but generally because they are slower than tail rotor configurations
@@swk91356 thanks
Those early prototype models looks other worldly! Like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, I don't think that would "fly" today for obvious safety reasons..
“These are so cool looking!”
:HU-2K appears:
“Oh, that’s one’s kinda boring.”
Very nice.
My bud (Navy) flew the H-2 in the 80's. He/they called it the "Kaman Coffin!"...Not good :( I flew H-1,3,46's (shout out:)
I didn't like flying the Kaman SH-2f Seasprite, very much. It had some good engineering points and some poor ones. If found that it was an excellent IFR flying helicopter for the Time. Trick was to use the electric drive trim frequently. The landing gear was excellent.
My father (Ralph Lee) Flew as a test pilot for Charlie in the late 50s early 60s. I remember him talking about winch downs at sea and altitude records with the Husky. I wish I had some footage of him during that time. He later became a salesman for Bell. As a kid I got a steady flow of model Helicopters to build.
Great memories! The Huskey was interesting. Known for few mechanical problems, a very high availability rate. But suffered from a low forward speed.
Please make the designs of K-Max open source! 🙏
I wonder just how much the 1947 Kaman design was influenced by the captured German Fletner helicopter that ended up in the USA after the war? czcams.com/video/cOP_-BcRMRY/video.html
In 1947 Kaman Aircraft as it was known then, was a small company operating out of an old gymnasium at Bradley Field Ct, and did not have access to any captured german engineering or data of any kind. The K-125 was developed as a crop duster independent of any US Military involvement. In fact all proposals to the US military were rejected until well after the K-125 and then the K-190 were already up and fully operational, so no, the Fletner helicopter had no influence on the Kaman design.
The real genius at Kaman was German engineer *Anton Flettner.*
Should have hired an Italian designer from Ferrari, as this company failed in the commercial market..