Kaman HH-43 Huskie
Helicopter with intermeshing rotors in use by the US military from the 1950s to the 1970s / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Kaman HH-43 Huskie is a helicopter developed and produced by the American rotorcraft manufacturer Kaman Aircraft.[1] It is perhaps most distinctive for its use of twin intermeshing rotors, having been largely designed by the German aeronautical engineer Anton Flettner.
HH-43 Huskie | |
---|---|
HH-43B Huskie of the United States Air Force | |
Role | Firefighting/rescue |
Manufacturer | Kaman Aircraft |
Designer | Anton Flettner |
First flight | 21 April 1953 |
Introduction | November 1958 |
Retired | Early 1970s |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Navy |
First flown on 21 April 1953, the HH-43 went into production and was operated by several military air services, including the United States Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps. It was primarily intended for use in aircraft firefighting and rescue in the close vicinity of air bases, but was extensively deployed during the Vietnam War. It was used as a search and rescue platform, having often been enhanced with makeshift modification and new apparatus to better suit the tropical conditions. The HH-43 was also exported to several other countries and sold commercially. It set several aviation records in its class, and was first helicopter to experiment with twin-turbine engines even though early designs used piston engines. By the 1970s, it was being replaced by newer rotorcraft that were typically bigger and capable of greater performance. Many of the helicopters made their way to the civilian market and museums.
Under the aircraft designation system used by the U.S. Navy pre-1962, Navy and U.S. Marine Corps versions were originally designated as the HTK, HOK or HUK, for their use as training, observation or utility aircraft, respectively. The Air Force Version was the H-43A, however after 1962 the designation system was consolidated, and that became the HH-43A, and the H-43B, the HH-43B. HUK-1 beacme UH-43C, HOK-1 became OH-43D, and HTK-1 became TH-43E.