The Mi-6 helicopter, the photo of which is below, is a multi-purpose heavy model of Soviet production. Its first copy was built by the Mil design office in the fifties of the last century. Its code name for NATO’s international classification is “Hook”.
general description
Mi-6 is a helicopter, the main purpose of which is the transportation of heavy goods, as well as the transportation of passengers from 65 to 90 people on folding seats (installed on both sides of the side and in the center of the cargo compartment). In addition, there is also a sanitary version of the machine, which provides for the possibility of placing inside 41 patients and two medical workers in specially equipped chairs. In order to ensure the transportation of bulky goods on an external sling, a winch is used here, which is controlled by the operator. The model became the first production helicopter in history equipped with two turboshaft power plants with a free turbine. It should also be noted that at the time of its creation, the helicopter became the most load-lifting on the planet among such machines. When creating models of heavy helicopters in the following years, the Mi-6 design was often taken as the basis.
History of development and construction
At the beginning of the fifties of the last century, missile systems known as the “Moon” appeared on the armament of the Soviet Union. In order to ensure their transportation, the state needed heavy helicopters, which were characterized by a large carrying capacity. The government commissioned the design bureau named Mil to develop and build such a machine. The design of the model started at the end of 1952. The layout of the new helicopter was ready in a year. After some modifications, on June 5, 1957, the Mi-6 test sample first flew into the air. The helicopter was mass-produced at factories in cities in Rostov and Moscow. In total, these enterprises built 860 such vehicles, made in military and civilian modifications.
Most of the created helicopters entered service with the Soviet Union. At the same time, from 1964 to 1978, the model was actively exported abroad. Its main customers were India, Egypt, China, Vietnam, Iraq, Peru, Syria and Ethiopia. In 1980, the serial production of the helicopter was curtailed, and in 2002 the operation of the machine in our country ceased.
Design
The model is built on a single-rotor scheme with a tail rotor and a wing. The cargo and passenger cabin is located under the engine and fuel compartments. The reinforced floor is equipped with mooring units, thanks to which the helicopter is able to transport heavy loads, including military equipment. As for large-sized objects, they are transported using an external suspension that can withstand a load of up to 8 tons. The cockpit is located in the bow. The blades of the lead screw are made of a metal one-piece pipe. In order to prevent icing, all components of the machine that may be affected by this are equipped with a special system. The model uses a chassis that rests on three legs and does not retract. As for the wheels, they are dual in front, and their orientation is carried out independently.
Main characteristics
Immediately after the creation of the model, many articles appeared in the foreign press stating that any of the Western giants with full load could easily raise the Mi-6 helicopter without problems. The technical characteristics of the machine, developed more than half a century ago, even today cause a lot of positive feedback from experts. It is equipped with two D-25V engines, the design of which was developed by P. Solovyov. Each of them develops a capacity of 5500 horsepower. The normal take-off weight of the model is 40.5 tons, while the maximum value of this indicator is 42.5 tons. Helicopter speed is 250 km / h. With 8 tons of cargo on board, he is able to cover a distance of 620 kilometers. When the load decreases, it becomes possible to refuel the internal tanks, and therefore the flight range increases. Its greatest value reaches the mark of 1450 kilometers.
Achievements
At the test stage, which the Mi-6 helicopter passed between 1959 and 1963, it set sixteen world records, which made it not only the most load-lifting, but also the fastest helicopter on the planet. The most significant achievements are the rise to a height of 5,600 meters of cargo weighing 5 tons, the rise to a height of more than 2,000 meters of cargo weighing 20 tons, the development of flight speed to a mark of 340 km / h on a section 100 km long and others. It should be noted that the last of these records remains valid today. Such achievements of the Mil Design Bureau did not go unnoticed - for them it was awarded the II.I. International Prize Sikorsky.
The most famous disasters
In the history of operation of the helicopter, there are two serious disasters of the Mi-6. The first of them occurred in Novoagansk on January 3, 1984. Then the machine transported passengers and cargo as part of an expedition to explore the oil field. She was unable to gain the required height, as a result of which the helicopter hit the ground and, turning over to the left side, burned down. The tragedy led to the death of 38 passengers. As the results of the investigation of this incident showed, the cause of the incident was the excessive weight of the helicopter.
On December 11, 1990, another Mi-6 crashed near the Belarusian town of Corbin. The helicopter landed in very difficult meteorological conditions. The crew was unable to cope with the management, which led to the achievement of a critical pitch angle. As a result, the car crashed to the ground and caught fire. All four crew members then died from injuries.
Interesting Facts
At the design stage of the model design, it was envisaged that its total take-off mass should be 40 tons. The maximum value of this indicator for foreign counterparts at that time was 15 tons.
The machine became the first helicopter in the USSR equipped with a gas turbine power plant.
Mi-6 - a helicopter in which for the first time in the history of Soviet aviation construction the possibility of transporting cargo outside the fuselage was realized.
Helicopters of this model took an active part in the aftermath of the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986.
Several helicopter copies are now located on sites with radioactive equipment, since their use after participating in the operation mentioned above would be dangerous.
Mi-62
Separate words deserve another interesting development of the Mil design office. After the Mi-28 combat helicopter appeared on the arsenal of the Russian army, it received a government order to develop another model. The main requirement that was put forward before the new product was full compliance with the realities of the 21st century. Work on the project started in 2000 and lasted about ten years. Its result was the fact that a radically new helicopter, the Mi-62, was born. The principle of its operation differs from similar machines produced at the beginning of this century. More specifically, the upper rotor serves exclusively for takeoff and landing, and in order for the machine to reach cruising speed, AI-222-25 jet marching engines are used. Each of them develops a power of 5500 horsepower. Despite the constant lack of financial resources, this year the machine was adopted by the Russian army.