Mil Mi-6 (Hook)

History

Mil Mi-6 was a loyal partner of the Soviet Union and its allies during the Cold War. For a while, the Mi-6 represented the world's largest production helicopter and proved to be the fastest aircraft of its kind, setting multiple world speed records early in its tenure.

Her rugged qualities ensured her active service across the vast expanses of Siberian territory, and despite her Cold War roots, she maintains an active military presence in the world's air forces - a testament to her design and versatility. The Russians retired the model on their own in 2002, when the maintainability and operating costs of the premium rotorcraft began to age.

Origins

The Mi-6 grew out of a common need for a large heavy transport helicopter system by the Soviet Air Force and Aeroflot. To be honest, this requirement was an amazing job, but fine-tuned by Mil's experienced engineers. The resulting design spawned a vast collection of V-6 prototypes.

The V-6 first flew in September 1957, with test pilot N.B. Leshin in control. In its capabilities alone, the V-6 rivals the power of fixed-wing transport mounts like the US Lockheed C-130 Hercules, proving that the V-6's powertrain definitely has some "clunk". Her engine and transmission components are large elements that make up an extremely powerful internal lift system.

The V-6 eventually became a production model in 1960 and was shown in Soviet inventory under the designation "Mi-6". She soon acquired the NATO nickname "The Hook" to recognize her. It is common for NATO to designate (sometimes derogatory) aircraft from the Soviet Union.

Fighters had designations beginning with the letter "F" (like "Fishbed" or "Fulcrum"), while bombers had designations of "B" (like "Bison" or "Bear"). Therefore, helicopters are appropriately named "H" (as in "Hind" or "Hip").

The Mi-6 is famous in Soviet aircraft lore because it was the first turboshaft-powered helicopter in its ranks to achieve both production and service. Additionally, it was the world's first helicopter to break the 300 km/h mark, setting a speed record in the process.

The production of this large helicopter culminated in over 925 examples from Soviet factories from 1960 to 1981.

The Mi-6PS is a specially modified Search and Rescue (SAR) variant for the recovery of Soviet Vostok and Soyuz capsules after re-entry from the sea. The Mi-6PSA is considered a slightly different version of this modified platform.

The Mi-6TP becomes a convertible hybrid helicopter that can be converted from a cargo role to a passenger role with some modifications to the cabin.

Mi-6 dimensions and weight

The Mil Mi-6 is a larger rotorcraft. Including the diameter of the main rotor blades, the overall width of the helicopter is 114 feet 10 inches. It has a height of 32 feet 4 inches and a barrel length of 108 feet 10 inches. When empty, the Mi-6 weighs 60,000 pounds.

It weighs in excess of 89,000 pounds when normally loaded, and can handle a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 93,000 pounds if required.

Mi-6 walks

From the outside, the appearance of the Mi-6 is definitely a Soviet-style Cold War helicopter design. The front of her flight deck has a conical glass nose cone. The pilot sits behind the nose cone assembly with viewing ports in the front (four panels), above (corner panels) and to the sides (two panels). The cockpit flight crew can enter through car-style doors on either side of the forward fuselage.

The cabin made up a large portion of the Mi-6's fuselage, and each side of the fuselage was fitted with round (and sometimes square) portholes for passengers to look out. Access to the cabin area is via two double hinged rectangular doors, one mounted amidships and the other aft. Large wings are mounted high on the sides of the fuselage (these wings account for about 20% of the lift required to fly the plane), and struts at the root of the wings help accommodate and manage the single-wheel main landing gear struts. Below each wing and main landing gear strut system is a recognizable cylindrical capsule-shaped attachment.

The twin-tire nose landing gear is located directly below the cockpit floor. The landing gear is non-retractable, so it remains statically exposed for all flights. A divided cargo access area has been added to the rear of the hull for managing cargo loads.

The tail extends from the top of the fuselage and tapers to form a thick vertical tail. A four-blade tail rotor is mounted on the vertical stabilizer. At the base of the rear wing are two smaller horizontal planes. The engines are located above the passenger cabin and aft of the flight deck and flow out of side-mounted oval vents. The main rotor is mounted on the fuselage behind the engine compartment, close to the fuselage.

The size of the main rotor equals or exceeds the entire barrel length of the fuselage. Unlike Western helicopter designs, the tail rotor (made mostly of wood) was relocated away from the starboard (rather than port) side of the aircraft.

As one might have guessed, the amount of rotor "washing" on this plane turned out to be enormous (not to mention its engine noise) and had to be seen/feeled to be fully respected. At rest, the main rotor blades are lowered significantly to the ground, giving viewers a sense of the sheer weight and flexibility inherent in its design.

Power and Performance

Power for the Mi-6 series is provided by two Soloviev (now Aviadvigatel) brand D-25V turboshaft engines, each delivering up to 5,500 shaft horsepower. This is a required quality for such a large body. The PTO drives a large-diameter five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor.

Performance specifications include a top speed of 300 km/h and a cruising speed of 250 km/h. Her range is quoted as about 385 miles and the ferry range is 900 miles. Her service limit is 14,750 feet.

Mi-6 Operator

The Mi-6 platform operator is a truly global group covering deployments in Asia, Africa, South America and the Western Pacific. Military operators include Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Peru, Poland, Russia (Soviet Union), Syria, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe.

The attentive reader will notice many ties that were/was in the Soviet sphere of influence at the time of the Mi-6's launch (eg Iraq). In the case of the Soviet Empire itself, the Mi-6 served with the Soviet Air Force, Army and Naval Aviation during its active duty. Some of these systems were later passed on to successor countries. The Bulgarian Air Force has also retired its older Mi-6 fleet.

The civilian operator became Aeroflot in the former Soviet Union and Instal in Poland, the latter known to operate at least three Mi-6A models.

Miscellaneous Notes

It is worth noting that the legacy of the Mi-6 is unique in that several of its complete airframes can still be found near the site of the irradiated Chernobyl reactor, untouched for decades, since then Seriously abandoned. These Mi-6s join similar abandoned vehicles in the so-called "vehicle graveyard." Such was the speed and importance of the Chernobyl evacuation when the explosion occurred.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes