Back Kaman H-43 "Huskie"
1956

Kaman H-43 "Huskie"

Kaman won a US Air Force contract in 1956 for a Crash/Rescue/Fire-Fighting helicopter. Designated the H-43A the first Huskies were delivered in 1958 and eighteen of these piston-powered helicopters were delivered until 1959 when Kaman switched entirely to turbine power.

Designated the H-43B/HH-43B, the turbine-powered Huskie was built in 1958 and lasted nine years. Powered by a Lycoming T53-L-1B the helicopters continued to be used in the USAF Crash/Rescue role. Later addition of an uprated Lycoming T53-L-11A engine re-designated the helicopter the HH-43F and a total of thirty-seven HH-43Fs were built up to 1968. The Kaman HH-43B set a world's altitude record for helicopters with a flight to 9850m and three world's time-of-climb records to 3000m, 6000m, and 9000m.

P.Allen "The Helicopter", 1996

Kaman H-43 "Huskie"

Charles H. Kaman established the Kaman Aircraft Corporation in December 1945 to manufacture a new helicopter rotor and control system of his own design. Development of the basic intermeshing rotor system and its servo flap control was completed in late 1946 and the first experimental Kaman K-125A helicopter was flown on 15 January 1947. From it was evolved first the K-190, flown in 1948, and then the K-225 three-seat utility helicopter; two examples of the K-225 were acquired by the US Navy in 1950. Used for evaluation purposes, they led to an initial contract for 29 HTK-1 trainers which, in 1962, were redesignated TH-43E. Contemporary with production of the HTK-1, Kaman developed the K-600, ordered for service with the US Marine Corps and US Navy under the respective designations HOK-1 and HUK-1; these were redesignated UH-43C and OH-43D in 1962. Eighteen aircraft similar to the US Navy's HUK-1s were also acquired by the US Air Force under the designation H-43A Huskie.

One HOK-1 was flown as a testbed aircraft with an Avco Lycoming XT53 turboshaft engine, and service testing confirmed the considerable performance improvement offered by this powerplant. This led to the H-43B, first flown on 13 December 1958, which became the major production version of the Huskie with a total of 193 built; of this number 31 were supplied under the US Military Assistance Program to Burma (12), Colombia (6), Morocco (4), Pakistan (6) and Thailand (3). Slightly larger than the earlier H-43A (later HH-43A), the H-43B (later HH-43B) had a cabin seating up to eight passengers and was powered by a 615kW Avco Lycoming T53-L-1B turboshaft engine. Final production version was the HH-43F (40 built for the USAF and 17 for Iran). Generally similar to the HH-43B airframe, except for internal rearrangement to seat 11 passengers, this last version of the Huskie had an 858kW Lycoming T53-L-11A derated to 615kW for improved performance in 'hot-and-high' conditions.

An interesting variant of the Huskie family derived from a conversion of one of the original K-225s. Under US Navy contract, Kaman installed in this aircraft a 130kW Boeing YT50 (Model 502-2) gas-turbine engine. When first flown with this powerplant on 10 December 1951, this was the first helicopter in the world to have its rotors powered by a turbine engine.

D.Donald "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft", 1997

Kaman H-43 "Huskie"

FACTS AND FIGURES

- Ex-US Huskies have served with the air forces of Burma, Colombia, Morocco, Pakistan and Thailand.

- The Huskie established seven world records using its T53-1 engine.

- The first flight of the prototype in this series took place on 13 December 1958.

- The USAF received 263 Huskies (18 H-43As, 203 HH-43Bs and 42 HH-43Fs) between 1958 and 1968.

- The rescue hoist of the Huskie has a capacity of 272kg for lifting personnel.

- A few civilian Huskies remain in use undertaking logging operations.


Photo Gallery 

A Navy HOK-1 (later OH-43D) leads a flight of Kaman helicopters - an HTK-1 fitted with floats, the turboshaft-powered K-225, and the second K-225 prototype

A U.S. Air Force HH-43B Huskie practices rescue operations at an air base in South Vietnam during 1966. Note the exhaust pipe projecting over the tail assembly, four tail fins, wheel skids for operation in swamps or marshes, and two men coming aboard via the rescue hoist. The HH-43s were used mainly for base operations and rarely for combat rescues in Vietnam

Technical data for Kaman H-43F "Huskie"

Crew: 1, passengers: 11, engine: 1 x Lycoming T53-L-11A turboshaft, rated at 850kW, rotor diameter: 14.33m, fuselage length: 7.67m, height: 3.84m, width: 4.58m, take-off weight: 4150kg, empty weight: 2095kg, max speed: 193km/h, cruising speed: 177km/h, rate of climb: 9.15m/s, service ceiling: 7010m, range: 810km

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160
Phil Sutherland, e-mail, 17.02.2009reply

I have many hours as a medic aboard the HH43. I served in Thailand, U-Tapao RTNB from 1972 to 1973. Participated in Linebacker II. Your site brings back many memories. Thank you.

Terry Sage, e-mail, 09.02.2009reply

I flew as crewchief from 1963 to 1967. Got a lot of co-pilot time. I flew the H-43B stateside and H-43F in Pleiku, VN. Great bird when you weren't flying in the rain. The blades where fabric like the wings of an airplane and would come loose at the trailing edge. Lots of duck tape and glue where always carried aboard. Great helio!!

Steve Richmond, e-mail, 29.01.2009reply

My parents worked at Kaman Aircraft when this particular aircraft (H43B) came to be. I worked there when the SH2 and K-Max were developed and manufactured. I wish I could have piloted the aircraft I had the previlege to build. Looking the photos brings back fantastic memories. "Fly On".

gerald kershenbaum, e-mail, 13.12.2008reply

i flew as a medic in the air rescue service at suffolk county afb in riverhead, li, ny in 1967.we flew the hh43-b at the base.it was a very good workhorse.

Carl Highgenboten, e-mail, 10.12.2008reply

I remember one night in 1967 when I was accompanying a patient from Delta Med in Dong Ha to NSA Hospital in Danang as a young Navy Doctor from 3rd Med Bn, 3rd MarDiv. We went fixed wing to Danang AFB and then were shuttled onboard a Kaman to NSA. I had never seen such a bird with what I thought was a weird loading procedure with the rotors turning. However, it was much smoother ride than the H-34s and H-46s I was used to.

P. Bellotti, e-mail, 17.08.2008reply

Is there anyone out there with details and maybe photos of the Huskie stationed at RAF Lakenheath Suffolk England in the mid sixties. I remember seeing it flying around as a kid and would love some imformation on it.

Johan Ragay, e-mail, 24.07.2008reply

Dear Sir,

Can you please help.
I am trying to get a message out to two of the persons who have left a message on your site :
1) Abraham R. Thomas
2) SHER AHMED
I do understand that I have to omit the ( ) in the given EMail address but never the less the address of Mr. Ahmed seems to be wrong. Yahoo does not know the person.
Thank you very much in advance,
Johan Ragay

Abraham R. Thomas, e-mail, 15.07.2008reply

I was a tech rep from Kaman on contract with ARMISH /MAAG
in Iran in 1967 and 1973-77 and I thoroughly enjoyed working
with this helo

Israel Sanchez, e-mail, 28.06.2008reply

I once flew on a Huskie while stationed in Myrtle Beach in the early '60's. I was assigned to the 354th Armament and Electronics Squadron.

It was only a short trip to the "compass rose", but it was exiting! I sat on the floor and no doors and it felt like I was going to fall out, especially when the pilot went straight up and banked the chopper to the right!

I was an "instrument weenie" and once in a while we had to do a "compass swing" to set /adjust the whiskey compass that was onboard.

Bruce N Jones, e-mail, 13.05.2008reply

I am looking for any one with information and photos of Huskie while tested at Edwards around the late 50's. My dad was a Kaman engineer during these tests, Joseph Jones. I was five, we lived in Lancaster.

Thanks

Bruce Jones

Andrew, e-mail, 03.05.2008reply

I'm looking for one for a helicopter museum - If anyone out there knows of any T53 examples available, please contact me at Kiwibird68@gmail.com - Any condition considered - Thanks.

R Harper, e-mail, 15.04.2009reply

I was in Crash Rescue back in the early 70's, and the HH43b was our airborne firefighting and rescue vehicle. We had some wild rides, but "Pedro" never let us down. She may not have been the most beautiful bird in town, but a lot of guys were mighty relieved to hear the unmistakable sound of those intermeshing rotors when we were on our way. I'd love to have saved one from the boneyard while they were still around. (I'd just sit in her and pretend I was 19 again! Lol)

SHER AHMED, e-mail, 19.12.2007reply

I HAVE WORKED APROX 14 YRS ON H-43 F
S NO 62-4552
62-4555
62-4553
62-4554
WITH PAK AIR FORCE
YOU CAN ASK ANY THING ABOUT AIR CRAFT

mikey, e-mail, 02.10.2007reply

It was always a neat old bird not really pretty but neat

Paul Emack, e-mail, 27.07.2007reply

One of the most fun times I ever had was in the summer of 1962, while in the Air Force at Malmstrom AFB, Montana. I was in the control tower when one of the Air Rescue pilots, who was getting in some required flight hours, called in to see if anyone wanted a ride. I radioed that I did, so he dropped down to the tarmac at Base Ops and I went out and climbed aboard. We spent the next two hours or so chasing rabbits through the underbrush not far away from the Air Base. We'd cruise at about 200 feet, he'd spot a rabbit, and we would drop down to nearly ground level and give the rabbits a laundry problem (ha!). The pilot would then climb back up, while doing "wheelies" and backward flying. I was really impressed, and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon!

Kim G Sweet, e-mail, 02.05.2007reply

I have a brand new set of brake calipers for this helo if you know of any being restored I would sell for a good price thanks
assy# 9531945 Part # 9540837

ken fritz, e-mail, 12.12.2006reply

I worked with this awsome helo while I was stationed in Guam Oct 70 to March 71 with the USAF fire fighter

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