Kaman K-Max
The K -1200 K -Max is a helicopter with double rotor Flettner ( intermeshing main rotors with Flettnerklappen ) of the U.S. manufacturer Kaman Aerospace. It has been developed specifically for the transport of external loads.
Background of the development
The German aviation pioneer Anton Flettner, who was in the period from 1947 to 1958 chief designer at Kaman in Bloomfield (Connecticut), led to his helicopter types that he developed there, the Flettner double rotor on the basis of his 1943 developed in Germany predecessor Flettner Fl 282 one. The particular advantage of tail rotor loose interpretation lies in the large payload, which is achieved with relatively low drive power; the K -Max exceeds the unladen weight significantly.
Technology
It originated as a single-engine aircraft, which due to its specific intended use - was executed very minimalist - Flights with large external loads. The hull and aluminum half- shell construction is just wide enough to accommodate the pilot and the engine with the gearbox and the fuel tank. In co-pilot and passenger seats was also omitted as on internal storage space, except for a small luggage compartment behind the pilot's seat. This simple design is the curb weight is kept as low as possible, also the pilot has to either side of his cockpit a very good view down to the external load. The hull has to be a rigid tricycle landing gear and a tail boom with horizontal and vertical stabilizing surfaces to control support as the pendulum rudder (horizontal stabilizing surface ) and as a rudder flap with articulated. The counter- intermeshing rotors each having two blades, and are synchronized via the main gear fixedly displaced by 90 °. Controlling the angle of attack of the rotor blades is carried out, each with a Flettnerklappe at the trailing edge of the sheets. The rotor blades are made of a shaping, through the nose spar from Sitka spruce plywood in the front and a honeycomb core support in the rear part of the profile and are covered with fiber composite laminate.
A special feature is the (more theoretical ) possibility for short flights a passenger or a crew member on a seat outside the hull mounted ( "Personnel carrying device system" ) take.
Use
The K -Max is mainly used for heli- logging in areas with difficult access, as the mountains of the logs from the air for the forests and soils is much gentler than a heavy-duty on the ground that wreaks damage in the undergrowth. A similar use of focus of recent times is the rapid processing of throwing wood after storm damage in the Alpine area to prevent bark beetle infestation; so several machines of this type in the Bavarian and Austrian Alpine region were in use after the storm Kyrill in January 2007.
These machines were still used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein: HB- XHJ fell from 1999; currently are two K -Max at the " Rotex " in Balzers Liechtenstein in use throughout Europe. A machine of the " Eagle Helicopter " in Zweisimmen suffered during an emergency landing due to technical problems on 2 October 2007 on the Ibergeregg in the Swiss canton of Schwyz total loss. Another ( JA6184 ) is Kyokuto Boeki (Japan Royal Helicopter) in Japan.
A version as OPTIONALLY Piloted Vehicle BURRO (Broad Area Unmanned Responsive Resupply Operations ) for military supply purposes is in advanced stage of development. In the field experiment with two helicopters in Afghanistan over 1000 missions have been completed unmanned.