HH-43 Huskie

The Kaman HH-43 Huskie was a helicopter used by the United States Air Force, the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps in the 1950s through 1970s. It was primarily used for aircraft firefighting and rescue. It was originally designated as the HTK and HUK by the U.S. Navy.

Design and development

The Huskie had an unusual inter-meshing contra-rotating twin-rotor arrangement with control effected by servo-flaps. The first prototype flew in 1947 and was adopted by the U.S. Navy with a piston-engine. It was later adopted by the Air Force in a turboshaft HH-43B and F versions.

Operational history

This aircraft saw use in the Vietnam War with several detachments of the 38th Air Rescue and Recovery Squadron, where it was known by its call sign moniker "Pedro", before being replaced by newer aircraft in the early 1970s.

Variants

XHTK-1

two two-seat aircraft for evaluation

HTK-1

three-seat production version for the United States Navy, later became TH-43A, 29 built

HTK-1G

one example for evaluation by the United States Coast Guard

HTK-1K

one example for static tests as a drone

XHOK-1

prototype of United States Marine Corps version, 2 built

HOK-1

United States Marine Corps version powered by a 600hp R-1340-48, later became OH-43D, 81 built

HUK-1

Unites States Navy version of the HOK-1, later became UH-43C, 24 built

H-43A

USAF version of the HOK-1, later became the HH-43A, 18 built

HH-43A

post-1962 designation of the H-43A

H-43B

H-43A powered by a 860shp T-53-L-1B, three-seats and full rescue equipment, later became HH-43B, 200-built

HH-43B

post-1962 designation of the H-43B

UH-43C

post-1962 designation of the HUK-1

OH-43D

post-1962 designation of the HOK-1

TH-43E

post-1962 designation of the HTK-1

HH-43F

HH-43B powered by a 825shp T-53-L-11A with a reduced diameter rotors, 42 built and conversions from HH-43B

QH-43G

One OH-43D converted to drone configuration

Operators

Πρότυπο:BIR

 Κολομβία

 Ιράν

 Μαρόκο

 Πακιστάν

 Ταϊλάνδη

 ΗΠΑ

• United States Air Force
• United States Marine Corps
• United States Navy

Survivors

• HH-43B Huskie, S/N 24535, is undergoing restoration at the Midland Air Museum in Coventry, England. The aircraft is usually viewable on display; 24535 is one of only two examples on display in the UK.
• HH-43B Huskie, S/N 62-4513, on display at Castle Air Museum, Atwater, California
• An HH-43 Huskie is on display at the Air Mobility Command Museum at Dover Air Force Base.

External links

• HH-43 page at the National Museum of the United States Air Force
• HH-43 Huskie Reference at Cybermodeler.com
• KensAviation.com page on the HH-43
• Museum of Aviation HH-43 page
• Unofficial USAF "Pedro" Crash Rescue Air Rescue Web Site