Other aircraft of the KFS – #2: Medium Lift Helicopter

The Kentucky Free State has chosen to produce and operate six Medium Lift Helicopters. These are based on the CH-37 Mojave design (selected because this airframe uses the same engines as the P-47 Thunderbolt).

 

 

 

The KFS is in an ‘interesting’ position. It has technical knowledge (enough to design and build quite sophisticated aircraft) but only a limited amount of resources and manufacturing capability. The KFS would like to build and operate both helicopters and large transport aircraft but does not quite have the ability to do so. The Mojave squadron represents a viable compromise – although maintenance requirements mean that (on most days) only 2 aircraft are in a flight-worthy condition. As a matter of policy, they have chosen to copy a 20th Century design, as they did with the P-47. In its day, the Mojave was a radical design; it had fully retractable main landing gear and a front-opening clamshell door, and the engines were located in large pods on each side of the main fuselage to the large five-blade rotor. This rotor was specially designed to allow the helicopter to continue flying if one of the blades was shot off.

Maximum payload is approximately 4000kg

Capabilities: Clam shell doors in the nose provide access to a 53.80m3 cargo compartment that can accommodate two jeeps or a 105mm howitzer. A winch capable of hoisting 907kg is fitted to the roof of the cargo section, to assist loading. The Mojave can carry 26 troops or 24 litters in the MedEvac role.

Specifications: main rotor diameter: 21.95m, fuselage length: 26.80m, height: 6.71m, max take-off weight: 14074kg

PERFORMANCE

Max. Engine Rating (each)	2,100 hp
Normal Engine Rating (each)	1,900 hp
Max. Speed	209 kph
Cruising Speed	185kph
Max. Rate-of-Climb	550m/sec
Service Ceiling	2600m
Fuel Consumption (Cruising)	757 litres/h
Range (with max. payload)	232km