Kawasaki KH-4

The Kawasaki KH-4 was a light utility helicopter produced in Japan in the 1960s as a development of the Bell 47 that Kawasaki had been building under licence since 1952. The most visible difference between the KH-4 and its forerunner was its new and enlarged cabin. This was fully enclosed (although the side doors were removable) and provided seating for three passengers side-by-side on a bench seat behind the pilot's seat. The helicopter was provided with a new control system, revised instrumentation, and larger fuel tank.

KH-4
A KH-4 at Glen Helen NT Australia.
Role Utility helicopter
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Kawasaki
First flight August 1962
Number built 211
Developed from Bell 47

A total of 211 KH-4s were built, including four that were modified from existing Bell 47Gs. The vast majority of these were bought by civil operators, although some were purchased by the military forces of Japan and Thailand.

Operators
 Japan
 Thailand
  • Thai Air Force[4]

Specifications
An Australian registered KH-4 in 2010.

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 3 passengers
  • Length: 13.30 m (43 ft 8 in) (overall length), 9.93 m (32 ft 7 in) (fuselage length)
  • Height: 2.84 m (9 ft 4 in)
  • Empty weight: 816 kg (1,799 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,293 kg (2,851 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming TVO-435-B1A air-cooled six-cylinder horizontally-opposed engine, 200 kW (270 hp)
  • Main rotor diameter: 11.32 m (37 ft 2 in)
  • Main rotor area: 100.6 m2 (1,083 sq ft)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 169 km/h (105 mph, 91 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 140 km/h (87 mph, 76 kn)
  • Range: 400 km (250 mi, 220 nmi)
  • Endurance: 4 hr 6 min
  • Service ceiling: 5,640 m (18,500 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 4.3 m/s (850 ft/min)

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References
  1. Andrade 1982, pp. 133–134
  2. Stroud 1971, p. 578
  3. Andrade 1982, p. 137
  4. Stroud 1971, p. 581
  5. Taylor 1966, p. 105
  • Andrade, John (1982). Militair 1982. London: Aviation Press Limited.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Taylor, John W. R. (1966). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1966–67. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 557.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Simpson, R. W. (1998). Airlife's Helicopters and Rotorcraft. Ramsbury: Airlife Publishing. pp. 123–25.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Stroud, Michael (7 October 1971). "Military Helicopter Market". Flight International. Vol. 100 no. 3265. pp. 574–581. Retrieved 26 April 2019.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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