This must be a "Smith" convention - ha ha. I too am a retired Marine Corps pilot. I flew the HOK at MCAS Kaneohe in 56/57 and at MCALF Camp Pendleton in VMO-6 in 61/62. The HOK pictured above was at MCAS Tustin when the picture was taken, it is now at the museum at MCAS Mirimar. I actually flew this particular helicopter. I also flew the HTK for a civilian operator in 58/59.

I am an old Marine helocopter pilot and flew the HOK back in 63/64. I was in VMO-1. I enjoyed the flying but we transitioned to HU1-E's and that was like going from a Modle A Ford to a Cadillac.

My father, Norman Peiffer, was one of Charlie Kaman's engineers to design parts that went into the HOK-1. The company was based near Windsor Locks, CT. We lived in PA, but in 1950 when work began on this aircraft my father, who was at the time an aeronautical engineer, was looking for more promising employment so we moved to CT. He took us to view the first flight of a later model. By 1959 we moved to AZ for my mother's health and dad worked for Airesearch designing valves and other components for NASA and the space program. But I am always looking for information about Kaman helicopters. They were tough little work-horses and have never received the recognition they deserved. Thanks for a place to air my views. Does anyone else out there have any more knowledge about them?

I have a HUK Kaman. It needs restoring and I was thinking an april. I would like to see your HOK and take photo's of it if it is not too far away.Also I have a mold for the right bubble but not the left door bubble do you know where I could find one?