MIL Mi-24 Helicopter.

Another Unique Design.

That no western design company has followed, and one wonders why?

The Mil helicopter designers are but a few who built helicopters in the former Soviet Union, Kamov and Yakolev were the other two. The Mil's started with the Mi-1 and then just progressed in size up to the Mi-6/10 and on to the most succesful Mi-17/117, Mi-171.

But the origins of the the Mi-24/25-35 have a much different take, it was the Afghanistan wars of the 1970'-80's that called for a combined helicopter roles so that both specialised troops could be got on to an area fast and protected by heavy fire.

The rocket pods on the Mi-8/17 were not suitable, so it was decided to combine two machines into one, transporter and gunship. There have over the years been many variants from the early glazed noses to the present aircraft style canopies. 

The west meantime do not seem to have taken advantage of developing a similar type, but rather have kept to fast transport backed up by supporting helicopter gunships.

Helicopters...

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.