This helicopter was flying over the burning reactor of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant and over hot spots around the world in the UN peacekeeping missions. It carry cargoes with weight of twenty tons at the distance of 2000 km (1242 miles). The diameter of its screw is equal to the wingspan of Boeing-737. It has two engines, 11 000 hp each. Mi-26 is the largest serial transport helicopter in the world!
“Utair” air company uses the biggest helicopters, the fleet of the company amounts to 352 helicopters, 25 of them are Mi-26.
Mi-26 is a Soviet multipurpose transport helicopter. Its first flight was performed on the 14th of December, 1977. The serial production is established in Rostov. 310 vehicles have been produced in general. The production proceeds.
Mi-26, as well as its its foregoer Mi-6, was intended for transportation of military equipment, armory, food, troops with their equipment and armament, for medical evacuations and, in special case, for tactical landings.
It was the first Soviet helicopter of the third generation. In the end of the 60s-70s many foreign companies were designing innovative helicopters, but Mi-26 was significantly superior to both domestic and foreign rates of helicopters with a cargo compartment.
Almost at the same geometrical dimensions as that of the Mi-6, the new vehicle had twice bigger payload and significantly better performance characteristics. But it didn’t affect the take-off weight of the helicopter.
They had been working much with the project trying to find reasonable solutions, constructions of some parts were repeatedly redesigned.
In 1974 they already knew what Mi-26 is going to be. Almost all systems of the power unit were located over the cargo compartment. In the nose part of the fuselage there was a cabin with seats for a left pilot, right pilot, navigator and a mechanic and a cabin for four persons who accompanied a cargo and one more mechanic.
The cargo compartment is 12,1 m length (with a ladder – 15 m) x width 3,2 m x height from 2,95 to 3,17 m.
In the landing variant the Mi-26 is carrying 82 soldiers or 68 paratroopers. Special equipment allowed to turn a helicopter into the ambulance one for a few hours to transport 60 wounded on stretchers and three accompanying medical workers.
It reads “Seat of a medical worker”.
Eight main fuel tanks with total capacity of 12,000 liters were placed under the cargo floor of the fuselage. Four more fuel tanks for 14,800 litres can be mounted in the cargo compartment. Fuel tanks and engines are protected by armor.
For the first time in the history of helicopter building the main rotor has eight blades.
Mi-26 has a tricycle landing gear and a retractable tail wheel. For convenient handling the clearance of the main undercarriage can be adjusted.
In 1983 Mi-26 started to be supplied to combat regiments and squadrons. Soon the became the favorite vehicles. It started to be used for combat purposes in Afghanistan, the Caucasus, Chechnya, Dagestan. It showed itself as a reliable and often irreplacable vehicle.
Mi-26 was also helping to fight fires and during disasters. In 1986 the helicopters were used for liquidation of the aftermath of the Chernobyl accident.
Mi-6 helicopters, brothers of Mi-26, stand near Pripyat.
Russian and Ukranian Mi-26 also participated in the UN peacekeeping missions. They worked in the former Yugoslavia, Somalia, Cambodia, Indonesia, etc.
The helicopter is widely famous abroad. It is used in many European countries.
In September, 1996, one Mi-26 set a world record when lifted 224 paratroopers at the height of 6500 m (four miles).
Once it was used for transportation of the Tu-134 plane in St. Petersburg.
via alexcheban
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27 Responses to “World Biggest Helicopter: Mi 26”
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A truly beautiful piece of Russian engineering.
india the hell purchase us helicopters ignoring the russian giant
India, has 3-4 of these beasts in the Indian Air Force.\
Totally awesome!
By A.Oscar 14/11/2012! The most problems about famous be the USA stronger country in the world: inclusive in the most part’s of the world still thinking was them invented just about everything. I know for many years be the Russian the ones invented the helicopter, that it’s why having the bigger helicopter in the world, and also the transport airplane too. Also the first toilet in the airplanes; also invented, by the Russians. We must saying America yes his most destructible country in the world; all the inventions like nuclear bomb was for destruction, inclusive the oil to produce gasoline and Ford that build the car. The Earth are suffering because USA in many ways: with hope in case of a third world war not going to be using many Nukes than living creatures included humans will vanish.
Is your self esteem really that low? You do realize, don’t you, that you are only serving to further the stereotype that all Russians have such poor opinions of themselves that they feel the need to constantly tell everyone how great they are and how much everyone else sucks. It’s kind of like boasting, which you do better than any other nation on the planet. You either invented it first or you do it better. And you aren’t responsible for anything bad. Ever. You should be very proud.
Lol. What makes you think A. Oscar is Russian?! If I’m not mistaken, hes Portuguese.
Were you dropped as a child?
Are you saying FORD build the FIRST car?!?!!?
BENZ built the first car! The GERMANS invented the first internal combustion engine; gas, diesel, etc.
Holy cow, I’m POLISH and I knew that!
Great piece of engineering!
Russaian engg is for bigest
German engg is for advancement
Japanese engg is for quality
American engg is for destruction
Those are big whirlybirds.
I want to see photos of the plant that makes that disgusting green paint on the control panels. That plant must be huge.
PS to the Facebook poster: A Chinook could lift a Mi 26 as well. Helicopters — by design — are not terribly heavy.
Good Luck with that. A Chinook couldn’t lift a Mi-26 actually 2 Chinooks would have a hard time lifting one Mi-26. Many people don’t realize that Mi-26 has similar cargo hold as C-130, that’s how big it is!
No, Chinook can’t lift a Chinook, that’s why they use MI-26.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mil_Mi-26#Afghanistan_Chinook_recovery
In Spring 2002, a civilian Mi-26 was leased to recover two U.S. Army MH-47E Chinook helicopters from a mountain in Afghanistan. The Chinooks, operated by the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, had been employed in Operation Anaconda, an effort to drive al Qaeda and Taliban fighters out of the Shahi-Kot Valley and surrounding mountains. They ended up stranded on the slopes above Sirkhankel at altitudes of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft) and 3,100 metres (10,200 ft). While the second was too badly damaged to recover, the first was determined to be reparable and estimated to weigh 12,000 kilograms (26,000 lb) (with all fuel, rotors, and non-essential equipment removed), which exceeded the maximum CH-53E payload of 9,100 kilograms (20,000 lb) at an altitude of 2,600 metres (8,500 ft).[2]
Mi-26: Empty weight: 28,200 kg (62,170 lb)
Have to give the Russians credit for building big. This, the AN-225, lots of other achievements.
great, thank you!!!!
Russia should restart to do what they are best in!
But for civil and commercial use this time.
THese so called monsters of the cold war could be pearls of a new age.
Restart bulding your helicopters and space shuttles. So we can experience a less boring age!
They build big because they are compensating!
Romanian helicopter ROMM is the biggest one in the world!!!!The ROMM can lift up and take to scrapyard one Mi-26 per hour!!!!!!!
There is no heli with that name, you ment ROMANI CIGANI GARAGANI ?
Huge machine.
It’s a biggest helicopter in the world! my husband is a captain of this type of helicopter Mi-26.
I enjoy skybirds!
Super ♥ ♥ ♥