Biographical Sketches

CHARLES H KAMAN

Born: June 15, 1919    In: Washington DC
Died: January 31, 2001    In: Bloomfield, CN

Charles H Kaman attended Catholic University and graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree. Following college, he was employed at the Hamilton Standard division of United Aircraft where within a few years he became chief aerodynamicist. In 1945, at age 26, he started Kaman Corp with a $2,000 investment by two friends and some basic laboratory equipment that evolved into a $1 billion company.

Kaman created a series of helicopters as the company’s first pursuit in business. These aircraft, incorporating his landmark invention of aerodynamic servo-flap rotor blade control to provide stability, ease of flight, and low control forces. His H-43B was the first helicopter to go through its service life with no loss of life or accidents attributable to the aircraft.

Kaman led the way in engineering developments in a wide range of VTOL technologies, including compound helicopters, convertaplanes, jet-driven rotors, rotorchutes, and drones. His list of firsts include the servo-controlled rotor, gas-turbine powered helicopter, twin-turbine-powered helicopter, production turbine-powered helicopter, first production all-composite rotor blade, and remotely controlled helicopter.

In 1997 the National Aeronautic Association presented Kaman with the Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy for his "more than 50 years of contributions to the development of rotary-wing flight, and a lifetime of services to his country as an engineer, entrepreneur, visionary and humanitarian," and for his contributions to rotary-wing aviation and technology as a whole, President Clinton awarded the National Medal of Technology in July 1996. That same year he was enshrined in the Hall of Honor of the National Museum of Naval Aviation. Kaman has received honorary doctorates, as well, from the universities of Connecticut, Hartford, and Colorado. Inducted Inventors Hall of Fame 2003. Lesser known to the aviation fraternity is that Kaman also invented the Ovation electric guitar, foundation of Kaman Music Corp, a company subsidiary that is now the USA’s largest independent distributor of musical instruments.

Denotes an individual known to have soloed an aircraft prior to December 16, 1917, whether they were members of the "Early Birds of Aviation" Organization or not.