Heavy Lift Helicopters - The MIL MI-26

The former Soviet Union have a history of producing big choppers capable of lifting heavy loads. The enormousness of the state coupled with a big figure of unaccessible countries required a dependable word form of transportation system capable of operating in rough environments. The mil Helicopter Corporation responded and have built some of the most capable heavy lift and lading choppers in the world.

The predecessor to the MI-26, the MI-6 Hook, had its start in 1954 when the Soviet OKB (Experimental Design Bureau) placed a demand for a chopper that was able to transport a warhead of 25,000 lbs a distance of 150 miles. The chopper would be particularly utile for trading operations in Siberia where rough statuses prevented land conveyance vehicles from being effectively used. The military would also be able to utilize the chopper to raise heavy weapon pieces, troops, and other big heavy loads.

When the MI-6 entered production it was powered by two Soloviev D-25V turbo shaft engines rated at 5,550 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. The hook had a immense five bladed rotor coil system that had a diameter of almost 115 ft. The crew consisted of five people. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a radiocommunication operator. The chopper had two doors on either side of the flight deck that could be jettisoned in an exigency and the windows on the pilots' sides were bulged so they could see the rear of the helicopter. The MI-6 also carried an APU (auxiliary powerfulness unit), a little turbine engine used to supply powerfulness to the ship when the chief engines were not in operation. The MI-6 was able to run twenty-four hours or nighttime in all weather. The MI-6 was also used as a civilian airliner, a fire combat aircraft, and recovered Soyuz space capsules. It had a scope of 370 statute miles and a max velocity of 190 mph.

Out of the success with the MI-6 came the MI-26 Halo. The MI-26 had its maiden flight in 1977 and went into full-scale production in 1981. When looking at the two aircraft you can see the influence that the MI-6 had on the designing of the MI-26. Though lone slightly heavier than the MI-6, the Aura can raise 44,000 pounds. It's powered by two Lotarev D-136 turbo shaft engines rated at 11,550 SHP each. The MI-26 is the lone chopper to utilize an eight bladed rotor coil system. The rotor coils are made from fibreglass and have got got Ti tips and have a diameter of 105 ft. To assist in care the aircraft characteristics built in handholds and footholds, which help when operating in severe conditions. The MI-26, like the MI-6, have an APU to supply powerfulness when the chief engines are not operating. For comparing the loading and lift capablenesses of the MI-26 are on par with that of the U.S. built C-130 Heracles conveyance plane.

The aircraft is loaded from the rear thorough clamshell doors and a fold up down loading ramp. The Aura have a upper limit velocity of 180 statute miles per hour and an operational scope of 320 nautical miles without using subsidiary combustible tanks.

The MI-26 is presently used in a figure of different functions including medevac, flying crane/construction, combustible tanker, and aerial fire fighting. The MI-26 have a crew of five. Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a loadmaster.

The MI-26 goes on the tradition of mil Helicopter of edifice some of the biggest and most powerful choppers on earth.