| K-225 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| XHTK-1 modified with a Boeing 502 (YT50) turboshaft engine | |
| Role | Experimental helicopter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Kaman Aircraft |
| First flight | 15 January 1947 (K-125) |
| Status | Retired |
| Primary users | United States Navy United States Coast Guard |
| Number built | 7 |
The Kaman K-225 is an American experimental helicopter developed by Kaman Aircraft. One example was modified to become the world's first gas turbine-powered helicopter.
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 first gas turbine-powered helicopter in December 1951. [2] This aircraft is now at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
A standard K-225 is preserved in the New England Air Museum at Windsor Locks Connecticut.
In 1953, the Turkish Army purchased one Kaman K-225 helicopter and a K-225 was the first helicopter flown in Turkey. [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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