my dad used to build these helicopters. I grew up playing in the HOK and H 43B's.. Charlie Kaman was a good friend of our family. My uncle all was with Charlie right from the start. Uncle Al started Kamatics charlies bearing company. When uncle al died Charlie came to the house with a fidelco guide dog for my aunt to keep her company. I have such great memories of this time. I wish I could take a ride in a H43b BEFORE I DIE.. IM 70 NOW...
I hope you get the chance to fly in one my friend. I'm so glad I uploaded this video, I love hearing from people who have a special connection to this helicopter. I even found out through people comments that this is not the last HH43. We were told at this air show that it was. It is truly a unique design, and one of my favorites. 😁
I was stationed in Arizona in the 80's in the Air Force. I worked on UH-1's. I saw one of these once and since then. Helicopter wise, this is the coolest design to me. I can only imagine how much fun it is to put those twin rotors on one at a time. I'd have to think the machine had to be clamped down pretty hard after the first one was on to keep it from falling to the side. Either way, this video was awesome.
I used to make the rotors for these helos at the "blade shop" in Hartford, CT. We also repaired the ones that we got back from Iran at the time. They were removed from service because of the 30 caliber holes in them yet they still remained in flight. Also, there is one HH43b at the Bradley Air Museum in Windsor Locks, CT that is still flyable. It's painted in an orange scheme and is used to train K-Max pilots since it's a two-place helicopter as opposed to the K-Max. My Dad was also one of the original employees at Kaman and we traveled the country (him the world) for Kaman. They were a wonderful company to work for.
my dad and uncle worked for Charlie since the beginning...uncle al started kamtics. my dad worked in engine build up and the transmission shop. till he died....
@@lesterpalifka1135 My dad (Ralph Lee) was a test pilot for Charlie and did quite a bit of work with the Husky. Got to fly with him in some other choppers but never this one.
I flew over Newfoundland as a passenger when stationed at Ernest Harmon AFB 1964 AND PHOTOGRAPHED MY FLIGHT, in the Huskie. A buddy was the crew chief!
That’s awesome! I was the one who originally uploaded this video, this is my second account. I think the Huskie is a cool helicopter. When I took this video I was under the impression that it was the last flyable one in existence but if you read through the comments you will see that there are more still flying.
Wayne, I logged under three different Huskie's from 1993 through 2000 . Awesome helicopter with a pretty good lift rating of 4000lb (I personally have seen them lift around 6000lb!). One of the neatest heli's I've been around! I worked for Skyline Helicopters out of College Place, Washington and also for Precision Helicopters out of Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Each company is no longer in business. All but one of those Huskies eventually met their demise. One lost power and experienced a VERY hard landing in the forest near Troy, Montana (injured crew - totaled heli), and the other was involved in a serious accident while slinging logs in North Idaho (pilot fatality). The third Huskie is still in existence and resides in Laclede, ID. The owner actually has two Huskies (I just sent him a message to ask). Both are fully operational and they use them as trainers for K-Max pilots. Doesn't sound like they see much logging action anymore. I spent a lot of time working around, and riding in this helicopter...lots of good times and stories!
That's good to know, I didn't even know these helicopters existed until I went to this air show. From what they were telling us this was the last flyable one in existance. I guess the museum there in Olympia WA is unaware of the others. I must say that they are definatly the most unique looking helicopter I've ever seen. =)
Yes I would have for Skyline helicopters also and Precision Helicopters also and there are two of them in Laclede Idaho and they were still flying in 2012 and helicopter logging and I know the owner very very well personally and they do have a brand new set of blades for it and if you want to spend a quarter of a million dollars you can actually get the key Max blades put on them and checked out for FAA and you can still fly them
@@cascas1672 The HH-60 took the Pedro call sign as a continuation of history. The new HH-60W will be called Jolly Green Giant II in a continuation of rescue history of the HH-3/HH-53 in SEA.
USAF Firefighters were also a part of the crew as I was one of those Firefighters. There was a Fire Suppression Kit (FSK) that used to slung to the bottom of the help.
Ken Wielk thanks for commenting. I think it's cool that after all these years I still get comments from those that have somehow been involved with this peice of American aviation history. :)
Thanks, and I should also point out that this is not actually the last HH43, but it is the last FLYABLE HH43. Once they reach the hour limits of the blades, that's it. So they only fly it for a short time at the air show there at the museum in Olympia here in Washington. It's a pretty wild helicopter with the blade setup that it has, two side by side. I think that was so they didn't have a tail rotor, and made easy access to the rear door. They were meant for rescue operations in Vietnam.
One would think they could come up with a composite version of the rotor blades, for replacement. Probably to much money for R&D for such a rare bird. and they have the Kmax. One would think they could use the technology from the Kmax blades to make new rotors for the Huskie. Maybe someone is working on it who knows.
The original mission of the HH-43 was Local Base Rescue (LBR) at bases that primarily had fighter a/c in the mid-60s on Tactical Air Command (TAC) bases. The concept had the HH-43 to be on alert/cocked, with a fire suppression kit (FSK) on a trailer near it. Upon a fighter a/c emergency the alert crew would scramble (consisting of pilot, medic & two firefighters). We would start the helicopter, hover over the FSK; the crew chief would attach it underneath; we would then fly to the end of the runway to orbit until the emergency a/c would land (hopefully safely). If needed for a fire we would hover; detach the FSK; land debark the firefighters & medic; hover back over the FSK to direct the airflow from the rotors to suppress the fire into a path the FFs could use the foam from the FSK to make a path to the cockpit. Yes, we practiced this procedure quite often during ‘practice fires’ on a dummy fuselage. The HH-43 was the only helicopter that the USAF had when SEA war came about. A big problem was it only had about a 90 nm operational radius. Here is a site that relates information about the HH-43 mission at Nakhon Phanom. These were the early days 1964-1965 combat rescue. www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/nkp
Sorry for taking so long to reply, for some reason RU-vid just now sent me the notification. It's an honor to hear from an actual Crew Chief of an HH43B. I salute you sir! 😁
Karen Gardner it's always great to hear from someone that is somehow related to this peice of aviation history. even after all these years passing since I first posted this video I am still getting comments. Thanks. 😀
I was assigned to helicopters after pilot training in 1964. Was assigned to helicopters and trained in the H-19s, CH-21s, and then the HH-43s (Stead AFB near Reno, NV). Flew at MacDill AFB, FL; Nakhon Phanom, Thailand; Incirlick AB, Turkey; and Addis Ababa, Ethiopia as pilot. The HH-43 was the only helicopter that the USAF had when SEA war came about. A big problem was it only had about a 90 nm operational radius. Here is a site that relates information about the HH-43 mission at Nakhon Phanom. These were the early days 1964-1965 combat rescue. www.ragay.nl/hh-43-sea/nkp
I believe the reason this was called and egg beater, was because the rotors are inter-meshing like the kitchen appliance. This aircraft and the Kmax are the only helicopters with this configuration. Never heard of conventional helicopters called egg beaters, but who knows.
@@oldsalty3d122 Thanks for the reply ! Kaman and Lockheed actually claim that maintenance costs are lower for th K Max. For one, there are no hydraulics and there is no tail rotor and these 2 components increase complexity.
@@suresh1957 That's very interesting. Now you have my curiosity up as to why they stopped production. I'll have to do some research and see what I can find. If I find something I'll let you know.
I heard of a crop dusting outfit here in Arizona, Mosley? aviation that was using them here for awhile. I still have the news paper clipping of one that had a hard landing in a cotton field. A friend of mine worked for Mosley and said they were all sent to Washington or Oregon for lifting trees from the forest. I went to the little airstrip he had and saw about 12 crates with the wooden blades in them. He was supposedly scouring the country for as many spare parts as he could find. Just thought I would let some of you guys know. I am building (as I write) a 1/32 scale model of this. I do have to say, A wonderful video and a Fantastic little bird! I crewed on the OH-58 and OH-6 in the Army.
Dave McMullen sorry for such a late responce, never got notification of your comment. The model you were building, is it a static model? I would love to have a scale RC model of this helicopter. I would be the envy of my RC flying club. :)
It's an old model kit from the 70's. Has a small transmission with gears so the blades will not hit each other. It is a "Testors model" kit, Opening doors and nicely made kit. It is a 1/32 scale and fairly large when built. (looking at it while typing). Hope this helps, And yes, An R/C version would be fantastic!!
Hey Wayne! That's were you can find it for sure. Do not pay more than $45.00 for it and make sure it's a sealed kit (Lots of small parts, Especially the transmission gears. You won't be disappointed in this kit. I will try and figure out a way to send you pics of my kit.
Thanks for sharing that information romanpolaski. I obviously made a mistake when I put in the video that this was the last one. It is a very unique helicopter and I would love to make a scale RC version of it one day. Just not sure if I have the skill necessary to make the scale head setup. I'm sure it can be done with the proper gearing arrangement, maybe once I get a 3D printer I could do some experimental designs. I also had no idea that there was one in Windsor Locks, CT. I went to school there for the NAVY back in the late '80's.
My dad's lieutenant said it looked like two seagulls fornicating in mid-air. 633 tactical Fighter Wing denang. These things we do That Others May Live!!!
Thanks for the information, and I have been informed by many others, including pilots of the HH43, that it's not the last one. =) It was the Museum in Olympia Washington that sponsored this air show, and they had made the announcement over the PA (might even be heard in this video) that it was the last one in existence. Glad this video is still being viewed and commented on. =)
I'm so glad I posted this video all those years ago. I've connected with so many people that have had experiences with this helicopter. It's a shame that you are unable to find any records of your fathers time in service.
Here is another one... www.hubschraubermuseum.de/exponate/mehrrotorige-hubschrauber/kaman-hh-43f-huskie/?lang=en I don't know whether it is flyable but they like to keep all exhibits in working shape. The museum is worth a stop if you are into helis.
It's a shame that all the Huskie's that Charlie Kaman built there is only one left flying. I worked for Kaman Aerospace back in the 1980's and I can honestly say it was an honor to work for Charlie.
James Doiron Yes it is. I would love to have a scale RC Helicopter of one of these. I've never seen one, not sure if it's possible to make one or not. But I'm sure I would be the talk of the flying club if I had one. =D
I can remember flying out of Danielson, Conn., airport back in the 60's and there was a state trade school, Ellis Tech and it had 3 huskies over by their aircraft shop.
I also wouldn't mind having a scale model RC helicopter of this helicopter, but would need to figure out a gear system so that the blades would be in sync and not hit each other. Would be a good thing to work out over the coming years though. I would be the talk of my flying club. =)
Wayne Saverud there was a model kit of this hell.had rotors operable by electric motor.Not flyable but the gearbox design might give a heads up as to direction to go?This was many years ago but the stuff that's surfaces on eBay,you never know!
Unless wooden rotor production is a lost art with lost materials akin to making a Stradivarius violin, and if the rotors aren't required to be wood, I don't see why new ones couldn't be made. Shame if they didn't. Somebody make a Kickstarter for it. What would it take, $50,000 - $100,000? Worse things have been funded. Thing's like a flying VW bus, and that's not a bad thing. This DOES NOT belong in a museum!
Never thought of it that way, but so right, had a couple of buses back in my hippie days. Had a rare panel version with split front seats, was a great hippie wagon LOL. Brother in law always uses the crack "and one time at band camp" anyway. When I was a kid these things were at Sandia base in Albuquerque (now KIrtland AFB) one flew over our house, we flashed our flashlights at it and they circled back around, and turned their spot light on us! Scared the crap out of us! A new chair lift was installed at Taos Ski Valley and they used a Kmax to set the lift towers. Truly amazing machines!
Actually this is not true story. There are 2 HH-43 Huskie Helicopters still flying and not at shows only. They are 57 years old and they are flying for Horizon Helicopters in Indiana logging timber. Gary Jorgenson owns 2 of them and they fly almost everyday then are my old helicopter 59-1564 now N5197W and 59-1556 now N556D I talked to him today April 22, 2015 and he is in semi-retirement and flies less but they are ready to go. Now they do logging and firefighting plus some other things I forgot what else. We talked over 1/2 hour and he was extremely nice I was the only one that ever contacted him that actually worked and flew in that helicopter. It was stationed at R.A.F. Woodbridge, England Det.12 40 ARRW. So these are actually the only 2 Huskies in the world that still fly now almost every day.
Bruce Whateley Very cool! It's great to hear from someone who is as interested in these helicopters as I am. I was not aware of the 2 that you mentioned. As you may have noticed in the video, the announcer stated that this was last flying HH-43. So it's possible that the museum is unaware of the other 2 flying HH-43's. When I made this video I mistakenly said that this was the last one any ware in the opening credits. One of these days I should put up an update popup on the video letting people know that there are at least 2 other flying HH-43's. :)
Bruce Whateley Hello Bruce, I'm not sure but my dad may have worked on those two Huskies when I was in the Air Force. We did some research a few years back and found all the ones he worked on by tail number. Still have the paper they were wrote. Almost sure those two were on that paper as well as the one in the video
I assembled a plastic model of one of these when I was twelve and I didn't do a very good job. In spite of that, Chip Blackman, the kid down the street stole it just before he move away, the twerp! This design must be very good because it's been around a long time. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-cOP_-BcRMRY.html Patent 3190554 .
