| The former Soviet Union has a history of producing | | | | power to the ship when the main engines were not |
| large helicopters capable of lifting heavy loads. The | | | | in operation. The MI-6 was able to operate day or |
| vastness of the country coupled with a large number | | | | night in all weather. The MI-6 was also used as a |
| of inaccessible areas required a reliable form of | | | | civilian airliner, a fire fighting aircraft, and recovered |
| transportation capable of operating in harsh | | | | Soyuz space capsules. It had a range of 370 miles |
| environments. The MIL Helicopter Corporation | | | | and a max speed of 190 mph. |
| responded and has built some of the most capable | | | | Out of the success with the MI-6 came the MI-26 |
| heavy lift and cargo helicopters in the world. | | | | Halo. The MI-26 had its maiden flight in 1977 and |
| The predecessor to the MI-26, the MI-6 Hook, had | | | | went into full-scale production in 1981. When looking |
| its start in 1954 when the Soviet OKB (Experimental | | | | at the two aircraft you can see the influence that |
| Design Bureau) placed a requirement for a helicopter | | | | the MI-6 had on the design of the MI-26. Though |
| that was able to carry a payload of 25,000 pounds a | | | | only slightly heavier than the MI-6, the Halo can lift |
| distance of 150 miles. The helicopter would be | | | | 44,000 pounds. It's powered by two Lotarev D-136 |
| particularly useful for operations in Siberia where | | | | turbo shaft engines rated at 11,550 SHP each. The |
| harsh conditions prevented ground transport vehicles | | | | MI-26 is the only helicopter to use an eight bladed |
| from being effectively used. The military would also | | | | rotor system. The rotors are made from fiberglass |
| be able to use the helicopter to lift artillery pieces, | | | | and have titanium tips and have a diameter of 105 ft. |
| troops, and other large heavy loads. | | | | To aid in maintenance the aircraft features built in |
| When the MI-6 entered production it was powered | | | | handholds and footholds, which help when operating |
| by two Soloviev D-25V turbo shaft engines rated at | | | | in austere conditions. The MI-26, like the MI-6, has an |
| 5,550 SHP (shaft horsepower) each. The hook had a | | | | APU to provide power when the main engines are |
| huge five bladed rotor system that had a diameter | | | | not operating. For comparison the load and lift |
| of almost 115 ft. The crew consisted of five people. | | | | capabilities of the MI-26 are on par with that of the |
| Two pilots, a navigator, a flight engineer, and a radio | | | | U.S. built C-130 Hercules transport plane. |
| operator. The helicopter had two doors on either side | | | | The aircraft is loaded from the rear thorough |
| of the flight deck that could be jettisoned in an | | | | clamshell doors and a fold down loading ramp. The |
| emergency and the windows on the pilots' sides | | | | Halo has a maximum speed of 180 mph and an |
| were bulged so they could see the rear of the | | | | operational range of 320 nautical miles without using |
| helicopter. The MI-6 also carried an APU (auxiliary | | | | auxiliary fuel tanks. |
| power unit), a small turbine engine used to provide | | | | |