K-Max Helicopter Production Resumes

Editorial Staff

Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

Kaman Corp. has resumed production of its K-Max heavy-lift utility helicopters, which was suspended over 10 years ago, with initial deliveries expected in early 2017.
The decision to revive production was based on market assessment and securing enough customer orders for an initial run of 10 aircraft.
The K-Max is a single-seat, heavy-lift helicopter capable of carrying up to 6,000 pounds, and has also been utilized in unmanned configurations for military, firefighting, and humanitarian missions.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Kaman Corp., which suspended production of its K-Max heavy-lift utility helicopters more than 10 years ago, has revived the production line, the company said last week. First deliveries are expected in early 2017, with an initial production run of 10 aircraft. Manufacturing will take place at Kaman’s facilities in Jacksonville, Florida, and Bloomfield, Connecticut. Launch customers include Rotex Helicopter AG, in Switzerland, and Helicopter Express, in Georgia. The single-engine, single-seat aircraft was certified in 1994, and features a counter-rotating twin rotor system. It was designed for lifting heavy loads, and can carry up to 6,000 pounds. About 35 copies were delivered.

“This is great news for Kaman and for operators who need the K-Max to perform their missions effectively,” said Neal Keating, Kaman’s CEO. “Our team has done a great job assessing the market and working with customers to secure enough orders to support the business case for reopening the line.” The U.S. Marine Corps operates two unmanned K-Max aircraft, which supported U.S. Marine Corps operations in Afghanistan from 2011 to 2014. Additional unmanned firefighting and humanitarian missions for K-Max are also being developed and tested, the company said.