Kamov Ka-22

Kamov

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1940 in Soviet Union
Founder	Nikolai Kamov
Headquarters	Moscow , Soviet Union
Products	Helicopters, rotorcraft

The Kamov Ka-22 Vintokryl (meaning rotor-wing or literally (air)screw-wing) (Cyrillic: Камов Ка-22 Винтокрыл) (NATO reporting name: Hoop) was a rotorcraft developed by Kamov for service with the Soviet Air Force. This experimental transport vehicle combined the vertical takeoff and landing ability of a helicopter with the cruising efficiency of a fixed-wing aircraft. Its cargo compartment was notably spacious, comparable in capacity to that of the Antonov An-12. The Ka-22 established eight world records in altitude and speed within its category, records that remain unbeaten to this day.

Development

To extend a helicopter's operational range, Kamov's designer Vladimir Barshevsky conceived a hybrid design integrating wings and an airplane-style propulsion system. In 1954, authorization was granted to build three Ka-22 units. However, delays ensued, and by 28 March 1956, production of prototypes two and three was halted. The Ka-22 achieved its initial lift-off on 17 June 1959 and completed its maiden free flight on 15 August 1959. The program encountered significant control challenges, prompting postponement of production orders until these issues were resolved. Eventually, in July 1960, an order was placed for three additional Ka-22 aircraft.

Design

Fundamentally, the Ka-22 featured a fixed-wing airframe equipped with rotors mounted above each wingtip. Each wingtip housed an engine powering both a four-bladed tractor propeller and a four-bladed main rotor. The initial prototype utilized 5,900shp Kuznetsov TV-2VK engines, later replaced by 5,500shp Soloviev D-25VK units. The fuselage incorporated a cockpit seating three crew members positioned above a glazed nose section, along with a cargo bay capable of accommodating either 80 passengers or up to 16.5 tonnes of freight. For loading oversized cargo, the entire nose section could pivot open to starboard. When operating in helicopter mode, propeller drive was disengaged and flaps lowered to a full 90 degrees. Conversely, during fixed-wing flight, the rotors were allowed to autorotate freely while control was maintained through the ailerons and tail surfaces. The aircraft was equipped with fixed twin-wheel landing gear.

Operational history

Throughout its brief service period, the Ka-22 achieved eight distinct world records, all piloted by D.K. Yefremov and V.V. Gromov. The aircraft made its inaugural public exhibition during the 1961 Soviet Aviation Day. On 7 October 1961, equipped with wheel spats and a cockpit fairing, it established a class speed record of 356.3 km/h. Subsequently, these modifications were removed, and on 24 November 1961, the Ka-22 lifted a payload weighing 16,485 kg to an altitude of 2,557 m.

On 28 August 1962, during a stopover en route to Moscow for acceptance trials, Ka-22 serial number 01-01 experienced a left roll and crashed inverted, resulting in the loss of the entire crew. Investigation revealed that the failure originated from the starboard rotor’s collective pitch control linkage. Further examination showed that two of the remaining three Ka-22s had comparable defects. To enhance stability and control following this incident, a sophisticated differential autopilot system was introduced. This system monitored aircraft attitude and angular accelerations and integrated with the control mechanisms.

During testing for the Soviet Air Force on 12 August 1964, aircraft 01-03 was destroyed after entering an uncontrolled right turn. Attempts to recover control caused a steep dive, prompting the crew to abandon the aircraft. Three members survived; however, pilot Col S.G. Brovtsev and technician A.F. Rogov perished.

Following these events, development of the Ka-22 ceased as the Mil Mi-6 had already assumed the heavy-lift helicopter role. The two remaining units, 01-02 and 01-04, were eventually dismantled. The Ka-22 was observed by Western observers only once during the Cold War, at an Aviation Day event in Moscow on 9 July 1961.

Specifications (Ka-22)

File:Ka-22.png

Kamov Ka-22

References

Bibliography

• Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. ISBN 0-517-439352.
• Everett-Heath, John. Soviet Helicopters: Design, Development and Tactics. Coulsdon, UK: 1988 (2nd Revised Ed.) ISBN 0-7106-0572-2
• Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.