Kaman HH-43 Huskie

I therefor would very much like to make contact with Mr. J.Boyle concerning his message that he has seen a Huskie being rebuilt, last year.

Johan Ragay

I’ve sent an email with some information.

BTW: thanks for providing a link to your website, it looks interesting, and I’d like to get a copy of your book.

Thanks everyone for the info. Its a type that has always intrigued me and hope to one day see flying, so i’m glad that there are at least a couple still active 🙂

curlyboy – indeed the only example i have ever seen was in fact the one at MAM, although that was way too long ago now.

Rob

I would like to update the information provided by J. Boyle.

N5197W did crash in 1993, but was rebuilt by TimberChoppers, ID and is flying again since July 1999 (up to at least 2008)

N556D did crash in 2001, but was rebuilt by HorizonHelicopters, ID and is flying again since March 2004 (up to at least 2008)

N4069R did crash in 1996, but was rebuilt by TimberChoppers, ID and is flying again since July 1997. This one is now owned by the Olympic Flight Museum and is flying in USAF colors as 17558 (active up to June 2012 at least)

N43XK is owned and used by Kaman as a trainer for new K-Max pilots , since March 1991 and up to to-day.
Kaman Corp has a second Huskie flying, N43FK since Dec 1993 and up to to-day.

N2856J did crash in 1967, but was rebuilt in May 1968, was flying up to at least 1998. In 2005 sold to the Classic Rotors Museum, CA and they planned to have it flying again in 2009.

All this information and stories about all companies and individuals who owned and flew the Huskie as civil registered aircraft since 1966 can be found in the book which I published in 2009. Please visit my website : www.h43-huskie.info

I lost contact with various people and there do not have up-to-date information concerning the present day flying of Huskies, appart from 17558.
I therefor would very much like to make contact with Mr. J.Boyle concerning his message that he has seen a Huskie being rebuilt, last year.

Johan Ragay

N5197W crashed in 1993, I don’t know whether it was rebuilt

N556D crashed in 2001, ”

N4069R, crashed in 1996, ”

N43XK was/is (?) being used by Kaman as a trainer for new K-Max pilots.

N2856J was a piston powed HH-43A and it crashed in 1967.

Huskies were popular in the Pacific Northwest for helicopter logging, in fact through the 70s – 90s there was a firm, Precision Helicopters, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho rebuilding them.

But as we’ve seen by the fates of thexamples mentioned, every year one or two would be lost in that demanding occupation. About 3 or 4 years ago, one crashed fatally not far from where I live during a logging operation.

I thought that was the last working Huskie. However, last year, while driving to a resort are I frequent, I passed by a large ranch that often has a turbine Hiller UH-12 (a type popular to support logging by larger helicopters) parked in front of the workshop. There, to my surprise, was another Huskie being rebuilt, probably for logging. I haven’t seen it since, but it looked to be an active project.

Not airworthy but MAM at Coventry have one but it is a bit buried last time I saw it I had a pic of it outside somewhere will have a look for it.

Curlyboy

I found that these still has their airworhtiness certification:
N5197W
N556D
N4069R
N43XK
N2856J

source: http://nl.flightaware.com/resources/registration/

But if they still are used to fly? :confused:

other site about the H-43: http://www.h43-huskie.info/framesetcivil.htm

Mexicanbob might be along to tell us more about the Olympic example, but AFAIK it is still flown on very rare occasions (at their airshow) due to limited blade life.