Kamov Ka-15

Ka-15
Ka-15
	Kamov Ka-15
General information
Type	Light utility helicopter
National origin	Soviet Union
Manufacturer	Kamov
Number built	375
History
Introduction date	1955
First flight	14 April 1952
Retired	1970s
Developed from	Kamov Ka-10
Variants	Kamov Ka-18

TheKamov Ka-15(NATO reporting nameHen^[2]) was a Soviet two-seat utility helicopter withcoaxial rotors,which first flew on14 April 1952 at the hands of test pilot D. K. Yefremov.^{[citation needed]}It was the world's first mass-produced coaxial helicopter. State acceptance trials were completed in 1955, and the helicopter entered production the following year at aircraft factory No. 99 inUlan-Ude.^{[citation needed]}It was a precursor to theKa-18and was fitted with the M-14 engine (helicopter version). It was primarily used for bush patrol, agricultural purposes and fishery control.

Design and development

In 1950, after evaluating the single-seatKamov Ka-10,Soviet Naval Aviationdeveloped a requirement for a larger and more capable two-seat helicopter with an enclosed cabin, but keeping the coaxial rotor layout of the Ka-10.^[3]^[4]The first prototype of the resulting design, the Kamov Ka-15, entered flight testing in early 1952.^[4]

While the Ka-10 was based around an open steel tube framework, the Ka-15 had a more conventional fuselage with a steel-tube structure, with the forward fuselage covered byplywoodand the aft fuselage by stressed-skinduralumin.The crew of two sat side-by-side in an enclosed, and extensively glazed cockpit, with the pilot sitting on the left side of the cockpit, and access by sliding doors on either side of the cockpit. A 255 hp (190 kW)Ivchenko AI-14Vradial enginewas mounted behind the cockpit, and drove the three-bladed coaxial rotors. Atwin tailwas mounted above the rear fuselage. The aircraft had a fixed undercarriage, with two main wheels and two castoring nosewheels, with a tailskid mounted under the rear fuselage.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Operational history

The Ka-15 entered service with Soviet Naval Aviation in about 1955, carrying out reconnaissance flights fromicebreakersas well as liaison and training duties. The type was tested with adipping sonar,but could not carry the equipment needed to be effective in an anti-submarine role.^[5]^[8]From 1958, a civil version, the Ka-15M, entered service withAeroflot.Roles included crop spraying, (with Kamov claiming that the Ka-15 was more efficient than the competingMil Mi-1), patrolling power lines and pipelines, carryingairmail,andair ambulance.^[9]^[8]^[10]

Variants

Ka-15: Two-seat light utility helicopter for theSoviet Navy.
Ka-15M: Two-seat light utility helicopter. Civilian version of the Ka-15.
Ka-18: Four-seat light utility helicopter.

Operators

Soviet Union

Specifications (Ka-15M)

Data fromSoviet Transport Aircraft since 1945^[13]

General characteristics

Crew:1
Capacity:1 passenger / 250 kg (551 lb) cargo
Length:6.26 m (20 ft 6 in)
Height:3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
Empty weight:990 kg (2,183 lb)
Max takeoff weight:1,410 kg (3,109 lb)
Powerplant:1 ×Ivchenko AI-14V9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 190 kW (250 hp)
Main rotor diameter:2 × 9.96 m (32 ft 8 in)

Performance

Maximum speed:150 km/h (93 mph, 81 kn)
Cruise speed:125 km/h (78 mph, 67 kn)
Range:390 km (240 mi, 210 nmi)
Service ceiling:3,000 m (9,800 ft)
Disk loading:9 kg/m²(1.8 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass:0.14 kW/kg (0.085 hp/lb)

References

^"Ка-15 – HEN".militaryrussia.ru(in Russian). 2011-03-27.
^Gunston 1995,p. XXXI.
^Everett-Heath 1988,p. 37.
^^a ^bGunston 1995,p. 138.
^^a ^bGunston 1995,pp. 138–139.
^Everett-Heath 1988,pp. 37–38.
^Stroud 1968,pp. 136–137.
^^a ^bEverett-Heath 1988,p. 38.
^Gunston 1995,p. 139.
^Stroud 1968,p. 139.
^Flight International13 July 1967,p.65.
^StroudFlight International7 October 1971,p.580.
^Stroud 1968,pp. 136–138.

Bibliography

Everett-Heath, John (1988).Soviet Helicopters: Design, Development and Tactics(Second ed.). Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group.ISBN 0-7106-0572-2.
Gunston, Bill(1995).The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995.London: Osprey.ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
Stroud, John (1968).Soviet Transport Aircraft since 1945.London: Putnam.ISBN 0-370-00126-5.
Stroud, Michael (7 October 1971). "Military Helicopter Market".Flight International.pp. 574–581.
"World Helicopter Market".Flight International.13 July 1967. pp. 57–71.

[1] "Ка-15 – HEN".militaryrussia.ru(in Russian). 2011-03-27.

[FOOTNOTEGunston1995XXXI-2] Gunston 1995,p. XXXI.

[FOOTNOTEEverett-Heath198837-3] Everett-Heath 1988,p. 37.

[FOOTNOTEGunston1995138-4] Gunston 1995,p. 138.

[FOOTNOTEGunston1995138–139-5] Gunston 1995,pp. 138–139.

[FOOTNOTEEverett-Heath198837–38-6] Everett-Heath 1988,pp. 37–38.

[FOOTNOTEStroud1968136–137-7] Stroud 1968,pp. 136–137.

[FOOTNOTEEverett-Heath198838-8] Everett-Heath 1988,p. 38.

[FOOTNOTEGunston1995139-9] Gunston 1995,p. 139.

[FOOTNOTEStroud1968139-10] Stroud 1968,p. 139.

[FOOTNOTE''Flight_International''_13_July_1967[httpswebarchiveorgweb20181229182500httpwwwflightglobalcompdfarchiveview1967196720-201263html_65]-11] Flight International13 July 1967,p.65.

[FOOTNOTEStroud_''Flight_International''_7_October_1971[httpwwwflightglobalcompdfarchiveview1971197120-202094html_580]-12] StroudFlight International7 October 1971,p.580.

[FOOTNOTEStroud1968136–138-13] Stroud 1968,pp. 136–138.

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