Kaman Receives Orders for Two Additional K-MAX® Aircraft; Announces Lot III Production Authorization

Kaman Receives Orders for Two Additional K-MAX® Aircraft; Announces Lot III Production Authorization

28 November 2018

BLOOMFIELD, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nov. 28, 2018–
Kaman Aerosystems (Kaman), a division of Kaman Corporation (NYSE:KAMN),
announced today that it received orders for two additional K-MAX®
helicopters, expanding the fleet of operators to two new customers who
will take delivery in the coming months. Further, given consistent
demand the company has approved continuous manufacture of the versatile
medium lift workhorse aircraft with the authorization of Lot III
production.

Mountain Blade Runner Helicopters of Montrose, Colorado, will become the
newest K-MAX® operator, utilizing the aircraft to support
high altitude external lift operations and firefighting missions. “We
are adding K-MAX® to our fleet of AS350B3e helicopters which
essentially doubles our lift capability at high altitudes and provides a
strong U.S. Forest Service Type 1 firefighting helicopter to combat
fires,” stated Bryson Gray, President of Mountain Blade Runner.

St. Louis Helicopter of Sellersburg, Indiana, will also expand its fleet
with the addition of a K-MAX®. The aircraft will be used for
agricultural aerial solutions, such as seeding, fertilizing and
firefighting, where the increased lift capacity will expand their
overall capability. Jim Robinson, Owner of St. Louis Helicopter, said,
“the significant increased lift capacity of the K-MAX® brings
expanded business solutions, it cost-effectively serves the expanding
needs of our customers, where we have implemented the use of greener
aircraft which are quieter and more cost-efficient.”

St. Louis Helicopter will finance their aircraft through a leasing
arrangement with Rainier Heli International Inc. Kaman and Rainier
entered into an agreement earlier this year under which Rainer offers
K-MAX® leasing solutions to customers. “As a K-MAX®
owner-operator ourselves for more than two decades, we understand the
outstanding value proposition K-MAX® offers to the external
lift market, including firefighting and power line construction,” stated
Lon Halvorson, CEO of Rainier. “We are pleased to bring Kaman and St.
Louis Helicopter together through our financing alternative.”

“We are delighted to add two new K-MAX® operators. We are
finding that operators are evaluating their entire fleet and looking to
expand their overall capabilities and K-MAX® provides a
much-needed solution,” stated Darlene Smith, V.P. and General Manager of
the Air Vehicles & MRO platform of Kaman Aerosystems.

Development of the K-MAX® was led by Kaman founder and former
CEO, aviation pioneer Charles H. Kaman, and received Federal Aviation
Administration certification in 1994. The single-engine, single-seat
K-MAX® is a rugged low-maintenance aircraft that features a
counter-rotating rotor system and is optimized for external load
operations and designed specifically for vertical reference flight. The
aircraft can lift up to 6,000 pounds (2,722 kg).

Risks Associated with Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes “forward looking statements” relating to the
K-MAX® program discussed above. These statements are based on
assumptions currently believed to be valid, but they involve risks and
uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from those
expressed in the forward looking statements. Important uncertainties
that could cause our actual results to differ from those expressed in
the forward looking statements are identified in our reports filed with
the SEC, including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our Annual
Reports on Form 10-K, and our Current Reports on Form 8-K. The forward
looking statements included in this press release are made only as of
the date of this release, and Kaman does not undertake any obligation to
update the forward looking statements to reflect subsequent events or
circumstances.

About Kaman

Kaman Aerosystems is a division of the Aerospace segment of Kaman
Corporation (NYSE:KAMN), which was founded in 1945 by aviation pioneer
Charles H. Kaman. Headquartered in Bloomfield, Connecticut, Kaman
Corporation conducts business in the aerospace and distribution markets.
The company produces and markets proprietary aircraft bearings and
components; super precision, miniature ball bearings; complex metallic
and composite aerostructures for commercial, military and general
aviation fixed and rotary wing aircraft; safe and arming solutions for
missile and bomb systems for the U.S. and allied militaries; subcontract
helicopter work; restoration, modification and support of our SH-2G
Super Seasprite maritime helicopters; and manufacture and support of our
K-MAX ® manned and unmanned medium-to-heavy lift helicopters. The
company is a leading distributor of industrial parts, and operates
approximately 240 customer service centers and five distribution centers
across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Kaman offers more than four million
items including bearings, mechanical power transmission, electrical,
material handling, motion control, fluid power, automation and MRO
supplies to customers in virtually every industry. Additionally, Kaman
provides engineering, design and support for automation, electrical,
linear, hydraulic and pneumatic systems as well as belting and rubber
fabrication, customized mechanical services, hose assemblies, repair,
fluid analysis and motor management. More information is available at www.kaman.com.

Source: Kaman Aerosystems

James Coogan
VP, Investor Relations
Kaman Corporation,
Bloomfield, CT
860-243-6342
[email protected]

Roger Wassmuth
Senior Director, Business Development
Kaman Air
Vehicles and MRO
860-243-7216 (office)
860-595-9112 (mobile)
[email protected]