KAMAN HOK-1/HUK-1

The Kaman HOK-1 / HUK-1 was an American multi-role helicopter developed in a counter-rotating twin-rotor system from the Cold War period. The prototype's flight took place in the 1950s. The length of the machine was approx. 7.6 m, with a rotor diameter of approx. 14.3 m. The drive was provided by a single Pratt and Whitey R-1340 Wasp engine in the R-1340-48 or R-1340-52 version. The genesis of the Kaman HOK-1 / HUK-1 machine dates back to the end of World War II, when the Kaman plant was interested in building a helicopter in a very unusual rotor system, now called a counter-rotating double rotor system or the Flettner system. Over the years, the machine was getting more and more technically perfect, and finally it aroused the interest of the US Marine Corps and the US Navy. Both types of US armed forces placed an order for it, the navy version was called HUK-1 and was powered by the R-1340-52 Wasp engine, while the USMC version was called HOK-1 and used the R- 1340-48 Wasp with power up to 600 HP. In total, both versions were made slightly over 120 pieces. They were used primarily for reconnaissance, liaison and transport tasks.