Mi-26 ‘Halo’

• Largest production helicopter • United Nations relief flights

With tho intention of surpassing the load-carrying capabilities of its mighty Mi-6 ‘Hook1, Mil set about designing its Mi-26 ‘Halo* in the early 1970s. It was clear that the twin-rotor layout of the earlier V-12 had led to a developmental dead end, so Mil set out to produce a thoroughly conventional helicopter on a hugh scale, with a payload up to one and a half times greater than that of any previous rotary-winged type.

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▼ Enormous capacity

The presence of thoso troops and a single jeep lend scale to the sue of tho Mr-26. The fuselage is as largo as that of a C-130 Hercules and can accomodate up to 80 fully – equipped soldiers.

▼ Special requirement

A primary requirement prompting the design and development of this huge helicopter was for a machine able to carry substantial loads in vast, sparsely- populated areas, such as Sibeha. Tho Mi-26 performs such tasks with ease.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Flown for tho first time In a hover on >• Variants Include the MI-26TZ tanker, wtven

can carry 14040 litres <3.709 gallons) of tue! dispensed on tho ground using 10 hoses

>- Machined from titanium, the main-rotor hub is tho largest in the world.

► In the firefighting role, the Mi-26 can drop 7500 litres (2,000 gallons) of fire retardant

>■ External steps and handholds allow
access to the tailboom and rotor.

► A special variant, designated Mi-26MS, w * fully-equipped airborno hospital.

Using the world’* only

n[KT. uional cighf-hbckxl rotor system, and luving a n’oss-sectkin similar to that of lb’-‘ H-^’T ( ..іікінГ four-turlml. m jirliltfi. the Mi-26 is truly a nuchiiK*«4 4i|vrbtic. v

Vi tilt its eight inlor blades, the Mi-.’" і’ aide i«> ha mile its two 7,i(u.-kV (lo. OOjMip.) turbines, with і rotor ні smaller diamctiT tlun ilutt ol the Mi-6 Power is translerrcd to the rotor shall by a gearlxfX ol unique design It is smallei tlun iIlii of the ‘Hook".

I Hit weighs І.’ЦК) kg I" "20 II» »

Its. strength allows it to control the huge ‘W. OfKLkg tiO. tKHLlh.» maximum torc|iie of the engines A hook beneath the fuselage is stiesstxl for slung loads ol up to

30.0 kg «іб. ООО 111.). Hie principal motivation for the Mi-26 programme was supjxm for exploration work in the remotest areas of Sllkcria. and а Іккік of such capacity is vital if heavy items of equipment are to lx – |xisiiionetl in otherwise iiLueessIble areas. Such Uxations aLso ачцііге the highest levels ol teluhilitv. atul ‘Halos often

Above: When the ‘Halo’ made its debut at Paris in 1981. the French had an apt nickname for it: ‘Le monstre’.

operate under harsh conditions for up to a week without ptoper engineering support As well as its many civilian roles, the Mi-26 is also employed hy the Indian. Russian ami |x>ssibly l kr. iini. ui inilllarv.

At first yk»<«. a would appour irvit tlko ‘uta design e very ofcl tueftcred ad arniv to mat of its ptedecesscr. itvo 1960s’ vintage tA-G ’Hoc*’ Mow*». tie read « extremely kgm and compact. and is tre first n Ute wend to carry etf* rotor bodes	Unifco iho mail unit. ti« 1Ы rotor unit was a complete^ now design ixxl kiitirea the composite budus Thr* frt to wfich it is Mted neorperates a tow-tperxi at*o<oi {notion which reduce; load – bearing on the lal гою», ertocfing better stabSy at cnxsing fipeed
fro other heirceter can march the cheer power of the Mfi M’ 26У twin lirbcnrui’l». when enuW* it to Ml «freebie load» In» neared competitor a the I960*’ vntage Swcoky Ch 53E Super Stanoo. which в cowered tiy three enptwe
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distmcihe taf – heavy fltance. amtar to tret ot other Ш desgivtd heicootere. To prelect the t/xter&do from damage when the hetcopter is eperatng <i ‘hot-and ingh’ condaons. a heavy-duty tail skd s ffltod
Rear access to the cstvomous fusetago e pruwdod try fftme cbkniBiwiii doom: two hexjo outwwr» and tho thud moerpomies a ‘amp wmen enn be Pwrtred vert саву.
At сгамт. tn* llato’m аЫе to carry the heerrieet payteert though (ho pant ГА-12 hold* the *l-hme record T’w Ot bu£ .» the iMMtf* urge»t heavy-Mt hdccotor
Mil’s milestone helicopters
■ MIL Mi-12 •HOMER’: Only two oxampies of Ihi*. the largest helicopter ever, were constructed. The Mt – 12 (or V-12) was powered by f our engines; however, technical difficult*» halted development
■ MIL MI-8 HIP’: Numerically the most | important European helicopter ever built, some 8000 oxamptos have entered service over the years, with а number of operators around the world. Many romaxt m use.
■ MIL M>-1: This little machine has the distinction of bong the first series production Soviet helicopter of conventional configixatioa Now а museumplece. it was a milestone in Russ-ал design.

Mil