JohnB wrote:
And for my two cents worth of advice (which no one has asked for), Classic Rotors would be better off putting their resources towards flying a smaller, better supported (I'm guessing there are some parts, and several airframes, out there as opposed to the HRP) HUP.
The sole airworthy example of the Retriever was lost in a fatal accident a few years back. It frequently appeared at the museum's airshows, flying with a H-21, CH-46 and CH-47...a unique family portrait.
I have to respectfully disagree, I think the decision to focus on the HRP makes sense. Compared to the HUP, I imagine it's a much more simple helicopter. The fuselage is nothing more than tubes and (optional!) fabric. Also, as you mentioned, if parts for HUPs are more plentiful than those for HRPs, then there is a greater chance of another organization being able to return one of the former to flight - whereas Classic Rotors is probably the only organization that has a shot of restoring an HRP to airworthy condition. Plus, think of how cool
that family portrait would look with an HRP!
JohnB wrote:
Aside from a unique transmission, the type has wood ribbed fabric covered rotor blades. I can only imagine the cost of those.
Unless I am mistaken, the availability of rotor blades are a primary reason why they is only one flying of the HH-43 Huskie series and the H-21 Shawnee/Workhorse. So don't underestimate the challenges in making bespoke rotor blades.
If the original wooden blades are unavailable, would it be possible to have new ones made out of more modern materials? I'm not saying it would be cheap or easy, but with the advances in materials science, it might be an option. You might be able to convince a company like Bell, Boeing, or Kaman to manufacture a set as part of a heritage program.
JohnB wrote:
I wouldn't mind being proven wrong, but I was under the impression Kaman was no longer operating theirs.
While it's no proof of airworthiness, there are four H-43s currently on the FAA register:
- N2856J - 58-1840 - H-43A - Classic Rotors Museum
- N4069R - 64-17558 - HH-43B/F - Olympic Jet, Inc. (aka Olympic Flight Museum)
- N43FK - 60-0289 - HH-43B - Kaman Aerospace Corporation
- N43XK - 59-1576 - HH-43F - Kaman Aerospace Corporation
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