Since the first flight of the helicopter in 1946/7 by Sikorsky in the U.S. This machine has now become the prolific aviation invention so far. It was during the Vietnam war that the helicopter came into its own right, despite being limited in types available for military warfare and medical evacuation as we have to day. These machines made a serious impact on the psyche of all around them.
The Russian Mil Mi-1/2 must be the most commonly built, very basic and slow compared to today, it did allow many countries around the world to get a foot hold in to military aviation.
Today the U.S. AH-60 blackhawk is the symbol of multi-role type, but there are larger machines such as the CH-47, twin rotor, CH-53 Super stallion heavy lift. Meanwhile the Russians have their multirole Mil Mi-24/35, combining both troop transport and gunship. Russia also has the largest helicopter ever built the Mil Mi-26, with eight rotor blades and the capacity to carry at least 100 troops.
Both Russia and the U.S. learned from Afghanistan and Vietnam the need for helicopters.
Later in the year I hope to return to the subject in more detail.
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