The Mil Mi-6 (NATO reporting name Hook), given the article number izdeliye 50 and company designation V-6, is a Soviet/Russian heavy transport helicopter that was designed by the Mil design bureau.
It was built in large numbers for both military and civil roles and used to be the largest helicopter in production until Mil Mi-26 was put in production in 1980.
Flown for the first time on 5 June 1957, the Mi-6 was the first Soviet turboshaft-powered production helicopter.
The Mi-6 resulted from a joint civil-military requirement for a very large vertical-lift aircraft, which could be used to add mobility in military operations as well as assist in the exploration and development of the expansive central and eastern regions of the USSR.
The R-7 gearbox and rotor head developed for Mil Mi-6 have a combined weight of 3,200 kg, which is greater than the two turboshaft engines.
Variable-incidence winglets were first mounted on the craft's sides in 1960 to the 30 pre-series units. These wings provide approximately 20% of the lift required during cruise flight.
In its early days, the Mi-6 set many world records, including one for sheer circuit speed at 340 km/h (211 mph). As of 2013, the Mi-6 still holds the FAI record of fastest 5-tonne lift over 1,000 km, in which it flew 284 km/h in 1962.
From 1959 to 1972 at least 500 units were built for various general-transport, utility, firefighting and flying-crane duties, the last two sub-types not being fitted with the large fixed wings, which in other versions bear part of the lift in cruising flight and thus enable higher speeds to be attained. The twin nose wheels and large low-pressure main wheels do not retract.
Normally flown by a crew of five or more, the Mi-6 seats 65 armed troops and can alternatively carry 41 stretcher (litter) patients and two attendants, or a wide range of bulky loads, including vehicles, loaded through rear clamshell doors.
In exercises, fleets of these aircraft have airlifted many kinds of weapons, including FROG-7 rockets on their PT-76 tracked chassis, as well as large radars and heavy artillery. All Soviet armoured personnel carriers, armoured cars and light mechanised infantry combat vehicles can be carried.
The CIS Interstate Aviation Committee cancelled the Mi-6's Type Certificate in October 2002 after the crash of RA-21074 in the Taimyr Peninsula. There have also been reports that the wooden tail rotor blades have reached the end of their service life.
The Mi-6 was by far the world's largest helicopter when it was designed in 1954–56; with a maximum load capacity of 12,000 kg. It was also the world's fastest helicopter; with a top speed of 300 km/h (190 mph).
Countries that have used Mil Mi-6 are Algeria, Belarus, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Peru, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Soviet Union, and Vietnam
General characteristics
- Crew: 6 (pilot, copilot, navigator, flight engineer, radio operator, technician)
- Capacity: 90 passengers / 70 airborne troops / 41 stretcher cases with 2 medical personnel
- Payload: 12,000 kg maximum internal cargo
- Maximum slung load: 8,000 kg
- Height: 9.156 m
- Wing area: 35 m2 auxiliary wing (when fitted)
- Gross weight: 40,500 kg
- Max takeoff weight: 44,000 kg
- Maximum fuel capacity: 17,250 l (4,560 US gal; 3,790 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 2 × Soloviev D-25V turboshaft engines, 4,100 kW (5,500 shp) each
- Main rotor diameter: × 35 m
- Maximum speed: 300 km/h (190 mph, 160 kn)
- Cruise speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn)
- Range: 970 km (600 mi, 520 nmi) at 1,000 m (3,281 ft) at 40,500 kg (89,287 lb) TOW
- Ferry range: 1,450 km (900 mi, 780 nmi)
- Endurance: 2 hours 51 minutes at 140–160 km/h (87–99 mph; 76–86 kn) at 1,000 m (3,281 ft) and 40,500 kg (89,287 lb) TOW
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,800 ft) up to 42,500 kg (93,696 lb) TOW
Armament
The navigator's station can be equipped with a 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Afanasev A-12.7 machine-gun with up to 270 rounds
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