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Mi-26 HALO

The Mi-26 helicopter, the heaviest and most powerful helicopter in the world, was designed for carrying large-size cargoes weighing up to 20 tons. It is the result of an early 1970s specification for a transport helicopter whose empty weight, without fuel, was not to exceed half of its maximum take-off weight. It can be used for construction projects ranging from bridges to power transmission lines. The combination of high load-carrying capacity and high cruise speed makes the use of the helicopter economically efficient.

The helicopter is loaded through the cargo hatch in the tail of the fuselage with lowered ladder and subladders. The cargo cabin is equipped with two electric hoists and lifting and loading devices ensuring loading and carrying along the cabin of cargoes weighing up to 5 tons. Mil Moscow helicopter plant joint stock company is the major designer and producer of military transport, civil transport, heavy-lift,multi-role helicopters. Mil is associated with the Rostov and Kazan production enterprises. Rostov makes the Mi-26 heavy-lift helicopters.

The Mi-26 is the first helicopter with an eight-blade main rotor, which is mounted above the fuselage midsection on a hump. Two turboshaft engines are mounted on top of the cabin with round air intakes above and behind the cockpit and exhaust ports at the sides of the engines. The long, bus-like body with fixed tricycle landing gear tapers to the nose and rear, with an upswept rear section and rounded nose and stepped-up cockpit. The tail is swept-back with a slightly tapered fin with large rotor on right side. The flats are forward-tapered and low-mounted on leading edge of the fin.

The HALO A has no armament. The load and lift capabilities of the aircraft are comparable to the US C-130 Hercules transport aircraft. The length of the landing gear struts can be hydraulically adjusted to facilitate loading through the rear doors. The tailskid is retractable to allow unrestricted approach to the rear clamshell doors and loading ramp. The cargo compartment has two electric winches (each with 2,500 kg capacity) on overhead rails can move loads along the length of the cabin. The cabin floor has rollers and tie-down rings throughout. The HALO has a closed-circuit television system to observe positioning over a sling load, and load operations. The Mi-26 is capable of single-engine flight in the event of loss of power by one engine (depending on aircraft mission weight) because of an engine load sharing system. If one engine fails, the other engine’s output is automatically increased to allow continued flight.

VARIANTS

Specifications

Country of Origin Russia
Builder MIL
Date of Introduction 1983
RoleHeavy cargo-transport
Similar Aircraft Mi-6 Hook, HH-3E Jolly Green Giant
BladesMain rotor - 8
Tail rotor - 5
Rotor diameter 105 ft (32 m)
Length 111 ft (33.8 m)
Length (rotors turning) 40 meters
Length (fuselage) 33.5 meters
Width 8.2 meters
Height 26 ft., 5 in. / 8.1 meters
Tail Rotor Diameter 7.6 meters
Cargo Compartment Dimensions 12 meters - Floor Length
3.3 meters - Width
Height variable from 2.9 to 3.2 meters
Weight 49500 kg - Normal takeoff weight
56000 kg - Maximum takeoff weight
28200 kg - empty weight
20000 kg - Load-lifting capacity
(100+ equipped troops, armored vehicles)
Engine 2 x 11,400 shp Lotarev D-136 turbines
Maximum speed 295 km/h
Cruising speed 183 mph / 255 km/h
Range 1200 km with Aux Fuel
800 km with maximum fuel reserve
475-800 km with maximum loading
Service Ceiling4600 m
1,800 m Hover (out of ground effect)
4,500 m Hover (in ground effect)
Fuel 11,900 liters Internal
Standard Payload 20,000 kg Internal or external load
  • over 80 troops, 60 litters, or
  • 2x BRDM-2 scout cars, or 2x BMDs, or
  • 1x BMP or,
  • 1x BTR-60/70/80 or,
  • 1x MT-LB
    • ArmamentUsually none
    Survivability/Countermeasures Main and tail rotor blades electrically deiced.
    Infrared signature suppressors on engines.
    Infrared jammers and decoys; flares.
    Self-sealing fuel tanks.
    AVIONICS The avionics and navigational package, a Doppler weather radar, and a fully functioning autopilot allow for day/night all-weather operation.
    Crew 5 (2x pilots, 1x navigator, 1x flight engineer, 1x loadmaster)
    Cost
    User Countries At least 5 countries - India, CIS

    Sources and Resources


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    Maintained by Robert Sherman
    Originally created by John Pike
    Updated Tuesday, September 21, 1999 10:18:15 AM