Kaman K-225

K-225

XHTK-1 modified with a Boeing 502 (YT50) turboshaft engine
Role	Experimental helicopter
Manufacturer	Kaman Aircraft
First flight	15 January 1947
Status	Retired
Primary user	United States Navy, United States Coast Guard
Number built	7
Unit cost	$25,000

The Kaman K-225 was an experimental helicopter developed by Kaman Aircraft. One was modified to become the world's first gas turbine-powered helicopter.

Design and development

The K-125 was Charles Kaman's first helicopter, which utilized intermeshing rotors and Kaman's patented servo-flap stability control.^[1] The K-125 first flew on 15 January 1947.

The K-190 and K-225 were an improved versions of the K-125, which first flew in April and July 1949 respectively. The U.S. Navy bought two and the Coast Guard one for $25,000 each. The United States Air Force evaluated one K-225 with the designation YH-22.

A modified K-225 equipped with a Boeing 502 (YT50) turboshaft engine became the world's first gas turbine- powered helicopter in December 1951.^[2] This aircraft is now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Variants

K-225

K-125: first prototype
K-190: improved prototype version of K-125 and licensed in April 1949
K-225: improved prototype version of K-125 (and K-190) and licensed in July 1949
YH-22: United States Aircraft designation for one K-225 bought for evaluation.
XHTK-1: United States Navy designation for two K-225s bought for evaluation.
XHTK-1G: Designation for one K-225 evaluated by the United States Coast Guard

Specifications (K-225)

K-225 displayed at the New England Air Museum, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, in June 2005

Data from ^[3]^[4]

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.83 m)
Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
Empty weight: 1,799 lb (816 kg)
Gross weight: 2,703 lb (1,226 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming O-435-2 6-cyl. air-cooled horizontally opposed piston engine, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 73 mph (117 km/h; 63 kn)

References

,Notes

↑ "Hall of Fame/Inventor Profile: Charles Kaman"
↑ Boeing Model 502 Gas Turbine Engine
↑ Eckland, K.O. (2009-03-07). "American Airplane Ka-Ku". usa: Aerofiles.com. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
↑ Kaman K-225, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, cit. 28. 1. 2013

Bibliography

"Hall of Fame/Inventor Profile: Charles Kaman". National Inventors Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2009-01-27.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaman K-225.

Eckland, K.O. (2009-03-07). "American Airplane 1949 Popular Science article on Kaman K-190 and the blade intermesh technology developed by Kaman — ie rare photos Ka-Ku". usa: Aerofiles.com. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
"New 'Copter Almost Flies Itself"

Aircraft produced by Kaman Aircraft

Company designations	K-16 K-17 K-20 K-125 K-190 K-225 K-240 K-600 K-700 K-1125 K-1200 K-Max KSA-100

Military designations	HOK HTK HUK H-22 H-43 HU2K/UH-2 HH-2 SH-2 SH-2G

United States helicopter designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Numerical sequence used by USAAC/USAAF/USAF 1941–present; US Army 1948–1956 and 1962–present; US Navy 1962–present

Main sequence
(1941–1962)

Prefix R-, 1941–1948	R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8 R-9 R-10 R-11 R-12 R-13 R-14 R-15 R-16

Prefix H-, 1948–1962	H-5 H-6 H-9 H-10 H-11 H-12 H-13/J H-15 H-16 H-17 H-18 H-19 H-20 H-21 H-22 H-23 H-24 H-25 H-26 H-27 H-28 H-29 H-30 H-31 H-32 H-33 H-34 H-35 H-36¹ H-37 H-38¹ H-39 H-40 H-41 H-42 H-43 H-44¹ H-45¹

Main joint sequence
(1962–present)

1962 redesignations	OH-13/UH-13J UH-19 CH-21 OH-23 UH-25 CH-34 CH-37 HH-43

New designations	CH-46/HH-46/UH-46 CH-47 UH-48 XH-49 QH-50 XH-51 HH-52 CH-53/HH-53/MH-53/CH-53E/CH-53K CH-54 TH-55 AH-56 TH-57 OH-58 XH-59 UH-60/SH-60/HH-60/HH-60J YUH-61 XCH-62 YAH-63 AH-64 HH-65 RAH-66 TH-67 MH-68 H-69¹ ARH-70 VH-71 UH-72 H-73 to H-91¹ VH-92

1962 redesignations
reusing old numbers

¹ Not assigned

USN helicopter designations pre-1962

Helicopter, Anti-submarine

Bell	HSL

Sikorsky	HSS-1 HSS-2

Helicopter, Crane

McDonnell	HCH

Helicopter, Observation

Convertawings	HOC

Hiller	HOE

Gyrodyne	HOG

Kaman	HOK

Sikorsky	HOS HO2S HO3S HO4S HO5S

Helicopter, Trainer pre-1948

Sikorsky	HNS

Helicopter, Trainer 1948-1962

Hiller	HTE

Kaman	HTK

Bell	HTL

Helicopter, Transport 1944-1962

Boeing Vertol	HRB

McDonnell	HRH

Piasecki	HRP

Sikorsky	HRS HR2S HR3S

Helicopter, Utility pre-1949

McDonnell	HJD

McDonnell	HJH

Piasecki	HJP

Sikorsky	HJS

Helicopter, Utility 1950-1962

Kaman	HUK HU2K

Bell:	HUL

McCulloch	HUM

Piasecki	HUP

Sikorsky	HUS HU2S

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