Kaman Aerosystems, a division of Kaman Corporation, announced that it has received orders for two additional K-MAX helicopters, expanding the fleet of operators to two new customers who will take delivery in the coming months. Further, given consistent demand the company has approved continuous manufacture of the versatile medium lift workhorse aircraft with the authorization of Lot III production.
Mountain Blade Runner Helicopters of Montrose, Colorado, will become the newest K-MAX operator, utilizing the aircraft to support high-altitude, external-lift operations and firefighting missions.
“We are adding K-MAX to our fleet of AS350 B3e [H125] helicopters which essentially doubles our lift capability at high altitudes and provides a strong U.S. Forest Service Type 1 firefighting helicopter to combat fires,” stated Bryson Gray, president of Mountain Blade Runner.
St. Louis Helicopter of Sellersburg, Indiana, will also expand its fleet with the addition of a K-MAX. The aircraft will be used for agricultural aerial solutions, such as seeding, fertilizing and firefighting, where the increased lift capacity will expand the company’s overall capability.
Jim Robinson, owner of St. Louis Helicopter, said, “The significant increased lift capacity of the K-MAX brings expanded business solutions, it cost-effectively serves the expanding needs of our customers, where we have implemented the use of greener aircraft which are quieter and more cost-efficient.”
St. Louis Helicopter will finance their aircraft through a leasing arrangement with Rainier Heli International Inc. Kaman and Rainier entered into an agreement earlier this year under which Rainer offers K-MAX leasing solutions to customers.
“As a K-MAX owner-operator ourselves for more than two decades, we understand the outstanding value proposition K-MAX offers to the external lift market, including firefighting and power line construction,” stated Lon Halvorson, CEO of Rainier. “We are pleased to bring Kaman and St. Louis Helicopter together through our financing alternative.”
“We are delighted to add two new K-MAX operators,” said Darlene Smith, vice president and general manager of the air vehicles and MRO platform of Kaman Aerosystems. “We are finding that operators are evaluating their entire fleet and looking to expand their overall capabilities and K-MAX provides a much-needed solution.”
Development of the K-MAX was led by Kaman founder and former CEO, aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and received Federal Aviation Administration certification in 1994. The single-engine, single-seat K-MAX is a rugged low-maintenance aircraft that features a counter-rotating rotor system and is optimized for external load operations and designed specifically for vertical reference flight. The aircraft can lift up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg).
