Heliqwest Kaman K-1200 K-max C-FXFT

Photographer's remark
(21.3.2018, 06:49 CET)
HeliQwest Helicopters arrived from Alberta to begin a heli-logging contract. Their two K-1200 K-Max helicopters have a routine lift capacity of 6,000 lbs but in cold dry air at sea level they can lift close to 9,000 lbs on a very low fuel load. Amazing lift for a machine that is powered by a similar engine to the Bell 205. These machines are fitted with a hydraulic pump that powers a large grapple on the end of a 200 ft long line. You can see the extra external hoses along the side of the helicopter. The pilot flies into active logging areas and grabs logs with the grapple. They are then carried to a drop area on land or in the ocean. Normally these logging areas are very remote and on steep hillsides making this an cost effective way to get the timber to market. There were only about 38 of these machines built with 30 or so still flying in the world so they are rare and hard to find for spotters! In 2017 Kaman started building these machines for the first time since 2003. They are in the process of building 20 more helicopters for about 6 million each!

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