Kaman has received orders for two manned K-MAX® heavy-lift utility helicopters from Lectern Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd. of China. The ...
Kaman has received orders for two manned K-MAX® heavy-lift utility helicopters from Lectern Aviation Supplies Co., Ltd. of China.
The fire fighting helicopters will be delivered to China Department of Forestry in 2017.
The single-engine, single-seat K-MAX is a rugged, low-maintenance aircraft featuring a unique intermeshing rotor system which eliminates the need for the tail rotor, saving power and reducing stress on the airframe.
The counter-rotating rotor system has each rotor mast mounted with a slight angle so that the blades intermesh without colliding each other.The design allows the helicopter to have high stability and powerful lifting capability making its suitable for firefighting, logging and other missions requiring repetitive aerial lift capabilities.
It is optimized for external sling load operation and designed specifically for vertical reference flight. It can lift over 6000 pounds (2722 kg), which is more than its own empty weight.
Kaman resumed K-MAX production in June, with the first new helicopter set to come off the production line in early 2017.
The new K-MAX helicopters will be powered by Honeywell T5317A-1 commercially certified engines that have been converted from former United States military engine cores and overhauled using new Honeywell components.
The engine conversion is being handled by Mint Turbines using kits provided by Honeywell Aerospace. Kaman already has secured buyers for six of the 10 helicopters in its initial production lot.
Development of the K-MAX was led by Kaman founder and former CEO, aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman. The helicopter received Federal Aviation Administration certification in 1994.
The U.S. Marine Corps maintains two unmanned K-MAX® aircraft developed with Lockheed Martin. These aircraft successfully supported the U.S. Marine Corps in Afghanistan for thirty-three months from 2011-2014 carrying more than 4.5 million pounds of cargo.
Additional unmanned firefighting and humanitarian missions for K-MAX® are also being developed and tested.
