Kaman K-20 Seasprite
The Kaman SH-2 Seasprite began as a compact naval utility helicopter but became a key pioneer of shipborne airborne early warning and anti-submarine warfare. Its distinctive intermeshing rotors eliminate the need for a tail rotor, a Kaman trademark that gives the helicopter a narrow shipboard footprint. The SH-2F carried sonar, radar, and torpedoes from small US Navy frigates. New Zealand continued flying upgraded SH-2G Super Seasprites long after the original American fleet had retired.
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Did you know?
Intermeshing rotors instead of a tail rotor are the giveaway — a Kaman trademark that let the Seasprite fit onto small frigate decks.
Specifications
| Length | 13.7 m (45 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 4.7 m (15 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 11.6 m (38 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 6 |
| Persons on board | 3 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 5.8 t |
| Range | 490 NM (907 km) |
| Maximum speed | 140 kt (259 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 15,000 ft (4,572 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 8,000 ft (2,438 m) |
| Rate of climb | 2,500 ft/min (12.7 m/s) |
| Engines | 2x General Electric T58-GE-8B |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Kaman K-20 Seasprite starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Kaman, the K-20 Seasprite family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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