Kaman HH-43 Autorotation

[okikuma]

Here's a video of a Kaman HH-43/HOK-1 performing a 180 degree autorotation to touchdown. Notice how leisurely the decent is along with the long "glide" to flare. In general terms, the HH-43 has nearly the same T-53 engine, operational weights as the UH-1H with twice the rotor disk area.

Wayne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=...ture=endscreen

[Scary Gary]

Back in 1981 I seen like five of these things rotting away at an airport.
I think they used to belong to the US Forest Service.

[Hueychief]

The company I used to work for had 2 K-Max's, an evolution of the HH-43. They were specialized external load machines that used the same powerplant of the B205++, Honeywell T-53-17A/B, and had fantastic lifting and handling qualities.
The sound is distinct as you can tell in the video as there's no tailrotor due to the synchro-meshing rotors and all the power is transmitted to the lifting rotors.
They also do not use hydraulics in the flight control system, but use servo-flaps on the blades themselves. (Little ailerons on the outer 1/3 of the blade) so essentially you flew the flaps and the flaps twisted the blades.
They are presently using them in Afghanistan as unmanned aerial delivery platforms.
Pic attached of my HR3 next to the K-Max when I used to commute to work with my airplane and flew helos for HQ.
Awesome machines!

[RotoPlane]

I've always like the Huskie....just something extra special about its design....and engineering.