i didn't know him, but i did meet him a couple of times (through events). man, putting the helicopters aside, fidelco AND ovation! you go charlie!
(i drive by kaman on my way to and from work each day. every time i see one of those birds up in the sky, i'll think of him)
Charles H. Kaman, Helicopter Pioneer, Dies At 91
The Hartford Courant
Charles H. Kaman, the brilliant helicopter pioneer who founded the company that bears his name at age 26 and later launched the Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation and developed Ovation guitars, died Monday.
Kaman, a longtime resident of Farmington, died after a long illness at Duncaster in Bloomfield, his home for several years. He was 91. The cause of death was not specified.
Kaman was one of a small group of mid-20th-century inventors, including Igor Sikorsky and H. Joseph Gerber, who shaped Connecticut industry through a combination of technological advancements and business acumen.
The eager engineer who graduated at the top of his class from Catholic University of America in 1940 got his start at United Aircraft's Hamilton Standard division working on propellers, where he rose quickly. There he met and was inspired by Sikorsky, whose business was also part of United Aircraft (now United Technologies Corp.)..............
pic: In this August 27, 1997 file photo, Charles Kaman, founder president and CEO of Kaman Corporation stands beside the latest Kaman helicopter now in prduction, the K-MAX aerial truck. In the background hovers an SH-2 Seasprite. The older, refurbushed Seasprites are now being sold internationally and Kaman hopes the market demand might reopen production lines. (Tony Bacewicz)
