HTK History

                                                                    (Kaman Model K-240 , as of 1962 the TH-43E)

 

128653 - 128660

  8

HTK-1  /  TH-43E

129300 - 129317

 18

HTK-1  /  TH-43E

137833 - 137835

  3

HTK-1  /  TH-43E

            Total   :

29

 

 

138602

  1

HTK-1K

 

 Kaman Aircraft received a Navy contract for the HTK-1 trainer helicopter, a cabin version of the K-225,  on 05 September 1950      ("Kaman Our Early Years", p81)

These 29 HTK-1 helicopters were built in Building 244 , a former National Guard Hangar at Bradley Fld, CT between 1951 and  October 1953

Kaman Bldg244 Bradley Kaman25Years publication

 

First flight took place on 04 April 1951, but it is unknown which aircraft was involved. Probably this first flight was made by the so-called HTK Dogship, which was flying with civilian registration N400A (see below)

 

According to  "Kaman Performance", the  "25 Anniversary Issue"  (1945-1970) publication, page 3 : "The first HTK  was rolled out and flown to Anacostia Naval Air Station, Washington, on April 26, 1951".   Two days later :

128653 HainesPoint WashDC 28Apr51 KaOurEarlyYrs HTK 128653 at Haines Point, Washington, DC , 28 April 1951, photo from  "Kaman Our Early Years", p86   

128653 HainesPnt 28Apr51 signed BillMurray EBay12

HTK 128653 at Haines Point, Washington, DC , 28 April 1951, photo signed by  Bill Murray, Kaman test pilot  (second from left) , Mr Charles H. Kaman and his wife are 3rd and 4th from the right  ; photo from EBay 2012 auction

128653 WashDC 28Apr51 AvWeek 21May1951 EBay16.JPG 

HTK-1  128653 Haines Point, Washington, DC    28 April 1951 -  Aviation Week issue 21 May1951  (page copy from EBay2016 auction)

NOTE :  only 1 hr. 40 minutes flight time upon arrival at Washington, DC  from Bradley Fld. , CT

(what does   ", was assembled from parts of three copters."  mean ??)



HTK Dogship  N400A

 

According to an article in "Aeroplane Monthly" , June 2006 , by Howard Levy , the first development of the XHK-225 was the HTK Dogship, with civil registration N400A.  Would this N400A be built on an existing K-225 airframe with the purpose of having a test aircraft ready before the first production HTK-1 would be available ??  

The title "dogship" used by author Howard Levy may refer to the following : (from the website of  Piasecki Aircraft Corp.)  “………., Piasecki piloted the world’s first successful tandem helicopter. The first tandem was called the "dogship" because it was a flying mock-up, and was flown as a control demonstrator”  (comment by Ragay)

 

 

N400A AeroplaneMonthly Jun2006 p65

N400A , photo by Howard Levy ,

"Aeroplane Monthly" ,  June 2006, page 65

128653 and N400A byWarrenShipp EBay2014  

HTK-1  128653 and  HTK  N400A, unknown date , photo by Warren Shipp, copied from  EBay2014 auction

 


 

HTK-1 Research and Development , modifications

  

HTK-1

Used for Research, Test and Development

 

 

128653

Roll-out  26 Apr51 and flown many hrs before accepted by the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics on 30 Nov51.

14 Aug51  Bradley Fld, damaged due to roll over, during a series of flights to determine if high blade loading was responsible for blade weaving, previously experienced on a HTK-1 copter

 

30 Nov51  -  06 Nov53  - R&D at Bradley Fld, CT

 

06 Nov53  -  27 Feb57  - R&D at Bloomfield, CT   -   SOC

128654

xx-xx-52  -  21 Feb53  -    ??

 

21 Feb53  -  12 Jun63  -  R&D at Bloomfield, CT  -  SOC

128655

12 Oct52  -  17 Feb53  -  to NATTC, Memphis, TN  (helicopter mechanic training school) - to HU-2

128656

18 Sep52  -  07 May53  -  R&D at NATC, Patuxent River, MD

 

07 May53  -  11 Jul54  -  NADC Project, Johnsville, PA    -  SOC

128657

15 Nov52  -  06 Nov53  -  R&D at NATC, Patuxent River, MD

 

06 Nov53  -  26 Mar54  -  R&D at Bloomfield, CT

 

26 Mar54  -  first flight with two Boeing 502-2 Turbine engines

 

1954          -  R&D at NATC, Patuxent River, MD

 

  xxx          -  24 Jul58  -  R&D at Bloomfield, CT   -  SOC

128658

31 Oct52  -  12 Jun53  -  R&D at NATC, Patuxent River, MD  -  to HU-2

129314

02 Dec55  -  03 Jan61  -  R&D at Bloomfield, CT  -  SOC   (HTK Drone Project - see  )

137835

29 Oct53  -  12 Jun63  -  R&D at Bloomfield, CT  -  SOC   (HTK Drone Project - see  )

138602

HTK-1K Drone Project  -  May53 first flight , R&D at Bradley Fld

    

HMX-1

MCAS Quantico , VA

 

 

 

128660        05 Nov52  -  26 Mar53                   crashed

 

129300        10 Oct52  -  20 Apr53                 -  to HU-2

 

129301        01 Nov52  -  20 Apr53                -  to HU-2

 

129302        05 Nov52  -  22 Jul53                  -  to HTU-1

 

128657 KamanPh246HTK-1  BuNo. 128657 , ca. 1953   - Kaman Photo

 

 

129302 Flying Apr53 Ebay

HTK-1  129302 - "Flying"  April 1953  -

from Ebay

 

129303 FtSill OK Dec52 WilburBatesJr coll Mutza

HTK-1  129303 on delivery flight to HU-1 at Ream Fld, CA - here photographed at Ft. Sill, OK in Dec 1952 by Wilbur Bates Jr -

photo coll. W. Mutza

 


 

 

From  “Aviation Week”, 08 Dec 1952 :

Several major modifications set the production HTK-1 apart from the prototype HTK which made its debut at the American Helicopter Society Forum, Haines Point, Washington, DC on 28 April 1951. Changes include shortened tailboom, added fin area, and aerodynamic changes in the rotor blades.  Shortening the tailboom caused a loss of tail movement arm , so the area of the outboard fins was increased from  10 ½  sq. ft. to 12 ½ sq. ft., and ventral and dorsal fins, each of 8  1/3  sq. ft., were added on the tailboom. The production HTK-1 had newly designed blades that are narrower than the old blades, widening at the servo-tab, and tapering toward the tip. The flexible blades are actuated by the servo-tabs, a distinctive Kaman feature.

 

Pneumatic floats could be fitted as needed, making it an all-terrain helicopter. Thus equipped, it was initially demonstrated to the US Navy on 28 April 1953.

 

128654 with floats KamanPhoto

128654 with floats , Apr53 - Kaman Photo 

 

128654 floats Apr53 byFrankGuaditis EBay14

128654 with floats, Apr53 - photo by Frank Guaditis,

taken from EBay auction 2014 

 

 


 

HTK-1 into Unit Service

First assignment to a NAVY  Unit took place on 22 January 1953 , when HU-2 received BuNo. 129305. Soon followed by HU-1 which accepted BuNo. 129303 on 29 January 1953. These aircraft were used all over the world as utility helicopters, but their intended role, training students, started when the first HTK-1 was delivered to HTU-1  at NAAS Ellyson Field, FL. on 17 July 1953 (BuNo. 129316).

The HTK-1 was so simple to fly that student pilots soloed in that machine after less than two hours dual time. (comment by pilot James M. Middleton - “Rotor & Wing International”,  April 1989 , page 16 ) 

 

HU-1

Ream Fld (Auxiliary Landing Field) , CA

 

 8   HTK-1 assigned from 29 January 1953  -  until 27 June 1954 

 

 

 

129303                   29 Jan53  -  07 Jun54  crashed near Vickersburg, MS

 

129304                   29 Jan53  -  05 Jan54  -  to HU-1  DET.1

 

129307                   06 Mar53  -  07 Oct53  accident at El Centro, CA  - w/o

 

129308                   06 Mar53  -  27 Jun54  -  to HTU-1

 

129311                   28 Apr53  -  14 Jun54  -  to HTU-1

 

129312   "UP 95"      14 Apr53  -  30 Nov53  -  to HU-1  DET.2

 

129313   "UP 92"      26 May53  -  05 Jan54  -  to HU-1  DET.1

 

129314                   25 May53  -  04 Nov53  -  to HTU-1

 

HU-1    DET.1

NAF Oppama, Japan

 

 

 

129304        05 Jan54  -  10 Dec54  to NAF ADV Base, Oppama - to San Diego 16 Mar55   -  SOC

 

129313        05 Jan54  -  10 Dec54  to NAF ADV Base, Oppama - to San Diego 16 Mar55   -  SOC

 

HU-1    DET.2

NAS Barbers Point, HI

 

 

 

129312   "UP 95"     30 Nov53  -  06 Jan55  to FASRON 117, Barbers Pnt - to San Diego 27 Jan55   -  SOC

 

 

 

129312 UP95 BarbersPnt Jul54 coll Mutza

HTK-1  129312 HU-1   "UP 95"  at  Barbers Pnt., HI  in  July 1954 -

photo coll.   W. Mutza  

 

129313 UP92 GMarkgraf

HTK-1  129313  HU-1   "UP 92" , unknown location and date -

photo by  G. Markgraf  

 

 


 

 

HU-2

NAS Lakehurst , NJ

 

 9   HTK-1 assigned from 22 January 1953  -  until 09 November 1953

 

 

 

128655                  17 Feb53  -  17 Aug53  **         -  to HTU-1

 

128658    "UR 2."    12 Jun53  -  29 Jul53               -  to HTU-1

 

128659    "UR 27"    14 Apr53  -  17 Aug53              -  to HTU-1 

 

129300                   20 Apr53  -  17 Aug53              -  to HTU-1

 

129301                   20 Apr53  -  17 Aug53              -  to HTU-1

 

129305                   22 Jan53  -  09 Mar53               -  to HTU-1

 

129306                   28 Jan53  -  09 Nov53   **         -  SOC

 

129309     "UR 26"    11 Mar53  -  09 Nov53  **   %     -  SOC

 

129310     "UR 25"    11 Mar53  -  09 Nov53  **   %     -  SOC

                                               for  **   %   see the two tables here below

 

128659 UR27 NewarkApt coll Mutza

HTK-1 128659  "UR 27"    of  HU-2  , photographed at  NewarkApt  ; photo collection  W. Mutza

   

HU-2   DET.46

ABD  LST1069  USS Orleans Parish

 

 

                       **

128655                     17 Mar53  -  09 Apr53

                       **

129306                     17 Mar53  -  02 Apr53

                       **

129309    "UR 26""      15 Mar53  -  09 Apr53

                       **

129310    "UR 25"       15 Mar53  -  02 Apr53

 

    

HU-2   DET.23

ABD  USS Tanner

 

 

                        %

129309    "UR 26"     16 Jun53  -  23 Sep53

                        %

129310    "UR 25"     16 Jun53  -  23 Sep53

 

 

129310 UR25 26 KamanPh328.JPG

HTK-1  129310 "UR 25"  and "UR 26"  on board the USS Orleans Parish  -

  Kaman Photo 328    

 

 

129310 UR25 1953 USS Tanner EBay15

HTK-1  129310 "UR 25" June-Sept 1953 on board the USS Tanner -

photo taken from EBay auction 2015 

 

 

 

 

 

HTU-1

NAAS Ellyson Field, FL

 

15    HTK-1 assigned from 17 July 1953  -  until 17 October 1955

 

 

 

128655                   17 Aug53  -  02 Mar55     -  SOC

 

128658                   07 Feb55  -  13 Oct55       -  SOC

 

128659                   17 Aug53  -  01 Apr55      -  SOC

 

129300                   17 Aug53  -  29 Jul54        -  SOC

 

129301                   17 Aug53  -  07 Dec54      -  SOC

 

129302                   22 Jul53   -  15 Dec54       -  SOC

 

129305                   01 Apr54  -  17 Oct55       -  SOC

 

129308                   27 Jun54  -  12 Oct55       -   SOC

 

129311                   14 Jun54  -  19 Apr55       -  SOC

 

129314                   22 Mar55  -  10 Oct55      -  to  BAR R&D  Bloomfield, CT

 

129315    "EA 13"     01 Jul54  -  12 Oct55       -  SOC

 

129316                   17 Jul53  -  25 Mar55       -  SOC

 

129317                   27 Jul53  -  01 Apr55       -  SOC

 

137833                   09 Sep53  -  17 May55     -  SOC

 

137834                  13 Oct53  -  16 Nov54      -  w/o

 

 

129315 EA13 HTU1 DaytonOH Sep54 Balogh coll Mutza

HTK-1  129315  "EA 13"  HTU-1   photographed at Dayton, OH  September 1954  by  Balogh,  photo collection  W. Mutza

 

 

     

 

HTK with twin-turbine power 

 

On 26 March 1954 a production HTK (BuNo 128657) fitted with two 190 e.s.h.p. Boeing 502-2 turbine engines made its maiden flight at Kaman’s Bloomfield plant in Connecticut. The research programme was a joint US Army/US Navy endeavour, but the helicopter wore only Navy markings, and was evaluated at the NATC. The twin-turbine HTK was Kaman’s fifth “world’s first” rotorcraft accomplishment.

128657 005 2Boeing NATC KamanPho 520 2 

 

128657 K225 N401A KamanPh753 ARita

Kaman HOK , HTK 128657 with twin turbo engines , K225  N401A , taken at Bloomfield, unknown date - Kaman Photo-753 , coll. A. D. Rita

 

 

Twin Turbo Boeing 502 2 KamanPh NIMilHist

Twin Turbo Boeing 502 2  - Kaman Photo , coll. NIMH

 

last update 21/12/2016