Mil Mi-26

Type (Muster)
Heavy transport helicopter (schwerer Transporthubschrauber)

Country (Land)
Russia (Rußland)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Mil
Sokolnitschewski Wal 2
107113 Rußland

Fax: 007-095/2645571

Actual series manufacture of the Mi-26 takes place at the Rostvertol plant (Novatorov 5, 344038 Rostov on Don, Russia; phone: 007-8632/317493, Fax: 007-8637/310039)

General (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 5
Passengers (Passagiere): maximum of 80 troops or 60 stretchers plus attendants. Proposed passenger version will seat 70 in five-abreast layout, with two toilets in the rear.
Cargo (Fracht): All types of pallettes and containers as well as small tanks and armoured personnell carriers. Two hoists (2,5 tons capacity each) assist with loading.

Power plant (Antrieb): 2 x Progress D-136 turboshafts
Power (Leistung): 2 x 7460 kW (10000 shp)

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 33,74 m
Length overall, rotor turning (Länge über drehende Rotoren): 40,02 m
Height (Höhe): 8,15 m to top of rotor head
Wheel track (Spurweite): 6,15 m
Main rotor diameter (Hauptrotordurchmesser): 32,00 m
Tail-rotor diameter (Heckrotordurchmesser): 7,61 m
Main rotor disk (Hauptrotorkreisfläche): 804,25 sq m
Tail rotor disk area (Heckrotorkreisfläche): 45,5 sq m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 12,1 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 3,2 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 2,9 - 3,2 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight (Leermasse): 28600 kg
Max. Payload (max. Nutzlast): 20000 kg
Fuel (Kraftstoff): 12000 litres
Normal take-off weight (normale Startmasse): 49600 kg
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 56000 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Max. level speed (max. Horizontalgeschw.): 295 km/h
Normal cruise speed (Reisegeschwindigkeit): 255 km/h at 500 m, 250 km/h at 1000 m
Speed with external load (Geschw. Mit Außenlasten): about 180 - 200 km/h
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): over 4600 m
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe)
- out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt): over 1800 m
Range (Reichweite): 800 km with standard fuel
Ferry range (Überführungsreichweite): 1920 km with auxiliary fuel
Endurance (Einsatzdauer): 3 h

Costs (Kosten)
In the mid-90s, prices of 10 to 12 million US-Dollars were quoted.

Customers (Kunden)
Between 200 and 300 Mi-26 were built so far. Among the main customers were Aeroflot (and now its successors) and the Russian military. Known export countries are Belarus, India, Kazakhstan, Peru and Ukraine.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
None. The Mi-26 is by far the largest helicopter available today.

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
The Mi-26 was designed as a much more powerful replacement of the Mi-6, with a cabin broadly similar in size to the C-130 Hercules. Work began in the early 70s and the first prototype flew on 14. December 1977. After several years of tests, deliveries reportedly commenced in 1982/83.
All Mi-26 are very similar, although Rostvertol offers special fits for passenger transport, medical evacuation, flying-crane operations or as a fuel carrier with large tanks in the cabin.
Nowadays, there are several companies offering the Mi-26 for lease around the world.

Last updated June 3, 1998

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