Among the heavy transport helicopters of all countries of the world did not appear a competitor to the Russian car
HELICOPTER CRANE
The USSR Council of Ministers decree on the creation of the B-10 helicopter crane, later named Mi-10, was signed on February 20 1958. The new machine was designed to transport bulky goods of 12 tonnes at a distance of 250 km or 15 tonnes for shorter distances.
The Mi-10 was created on the basis of the Mi-6 helicopter that had already made an impression on the foreign designers of the helicopter with maximum use of its parts and parts, but the fuselage of the new machine was designed anew. The crew cabin of three people was located in the bow, and under the fuselage was a camera that gave a signal to the cabin, where there was a special television installation, which helped to monitor the cargo during loading and in flight. A telescopic tube was installed under the cabin for emergency escape by the crew when flying with a platform. In the central part of the fuselage, a cargo-passenger cabin was equipped, in which the accompanying cargo team could be transported - up to 28 people - or cargo up to 3 tons. The main cargo was transported by helicopter under the fuselage between the chassis, or on a special platform (for small loads), or directly remotely controlled from the cab or from the ground, using a remote control, hydraulic claws, or at an external cable suspension unit designed for 8 tons of cargo.
The design of the B-10 was completed in the 1959 year, and the 15 of June 1960 of the year was the crane helicopter, which by then had already become the Mi-10, made its first flight. And in 1965, it was demonstrated at the Paris Air Show, where the Mi-10 created a real sensation among experts and ordinary visitors. Foreign specialists were so intrigued by the new rotor-wing giant that the following year a Dutch company purchased one car, then reselling it in the USA, where the Mi-10 was subjected to intensive tests. Expert estimates were very high.
The technical potential of the crane helicopter turned out to be so significant that special military modifications were created on its basis. For example, a helicopter - jammer Mi-10P, designed to provide combat operations front-line aviation by interfering with a ground-based radar for early detection, guidance and target designation, as well as a prototype Mi-10GR airborne direction finder.
FOREIGN EXPERIENCE
The work on TTW was conducted not only in our country - foreign helicopter builders, mainly American ones, tried to create active competition. At first, of course, these were helicopters that fit the definition of “heavy” only because there were virtually no real helicopters at that time. For example, the “Sikorsky” heavy transport helicopter CH-1956 of the Sikorsky company launched in July 37 in July had a maximum take-off weight of 14 080 kg and could take on board the 26 paratroopers or 24 stretcher wounded. And only a year later in the USSR did the first heavy helicopter Mi-6, which had the maximum take-off weight of 42 500 kg, made its first flight. He could carry up to 70 fully equipped paratroopers or 41 stretcher wounded with two orderlies.
The closest competitor Mi-26 - CH-47 "Chinook"
Although we must pay tribute to the Americans - they used their steel dragonflies "in full". For example, on the basis of CH-37 was actually created the first in stories HR2S-1W helicopter early warning complex. And four modified CH-37В, sent to Vietnam in 1963 to ensure the evacuation of downed American aircraft, for a short time business trips took out machinery and equipment worth more than 7,5 million dollars, part of the cargo - from territories not controlled by the US military.
In addition, on the basis of the same machine in 1958, the first foreign crane helicopter was created, capable of transporting military personnel, a medical unit, a radar station or other on the ventral platform already before 100. Subsequently, a more powerful, gas-turbine version of the CH-54А / В (civil designation - S-64 Skycrane crane helicopter) appeared, which had a maximum take-off weight of about 21 000 kg, and could dispatch a mobile 370 km Army hospital equipped with an operating room, an X-ray room, a research laboratory and a blood bank. In the transport version of the same, he could carry a "block" with 45 soldiers in full gear.
The helicopter was actively used in Vietnam by the 1 th cavalry division, including for dropping 3048-kg bombs for clearing jungle zones for landing airborne troops and for evacuating damaged aircraft that turned out to be too heavy for CH-47 Chinook helicopters. A distinctive feature of the American helicopter-crane was the ability, hovering in the air, to lift and lower transportable equipment on a winch, thereby avoiding the need to perform a landing. These machines were operated by the US National Guard until the beginning of the 1990-s, and a half dozen cars continue to be operated by civilian companies to this day. Unlike our “younger” Mi-10 / 10K crane helicopter.
However, the NATO military command required not only a rotary-wing crane capable of operating in a fairly “calm” environment - the car was too vulnerable to enemy fire. It also required TTV, which could be effectively applied at the forefront to solve a wide range of common military and special tasks. These machines are CH-47 and CH-53, which have undergone more than one modernization today and have no replacement in the foreseeable future.
CHINUK AND SUPER STELON
The history of the CH-47 Chinook helicopter began back in 1956, when the US Army Department decided to replace the piston-engine CH-37 transport helicopters with new gas turbine machines. Although American generals had different views on what the new helicopter should be like: while some needed an assault helicopter capable of transporting 15-20 paratroopers, others needed a machine capable of transporting heavy artillery systems, vehicles and even launchers missiles "Pershing".
Responding to the demands of the army, Vertol developed the 107 Model project (V-107 from 1957), and in June 1958, a contract was signed with it to build three prototypes. The choice of the ministry fell on the hardest option offered by the company under the designation “Model 114”, which was later put into service under the designation NA-1В (from the year 1962 - СН-47А). It had a maximum take-off weight of about 15 000 kg.
Almost immediately, the command of the US Army identified the CH-47 as the main transport helicopter. By February 1966, the 161 helicopter was placed in the army. Since November 1965, CH-47А, and then CH-47В, they fought in Vietnam, where the most impressive actions of theirs were the “landing” of artillery batteries at the dominant heights and strong points away from the main bases, as well as the evacuation of downed aircraft — sometimes with enemy territory. According to official US statistics, during the war years, the Chinooks evacuated downed or damaged aircraft around 12, the total cost of which amounted to 000 billion. Helicopters were also used to drop napalm and tear gas containers from the ramps of the North Vietnamese troops.
Of the entire Chinook park that was in the hands of the American and South Vietnamese armies during the Vietnam War, about a third of the enemy’s fire or various incidents were lost, which in itself speaks about the intensity of their use in this theater. CH-47 fought on other no less famous wars: between Iran and Iraq, since 70 of the “Chinooks” built in Italy was acquired by Tehran in 1972 – 1976, and also on the Falklands in 1982 - from both conflicting parties. From the interesting facts, an episode from July 1978 of the year can be cited, when four Iranian CH-47s "flew" into the airspace of the USSR - one was shot down, and one more was planted on Soviet territory.
"Chinook" is constantly being upgraded with an increase in flight performance. Thus, the CH-47С already had a maximum take-off weight of more than 21 000 kg, a more powerful propulsion system and an automatic hold system at a given hovering point. And in 1982, the upgraded CH-47D helicopter, featuring an improved power plant, avionics, composite rotor blades, a new pilot cabin, and so on, began to be supplied to the US Armed Forces. The new helicopter could fly with an external load up to 8000 kg (for example, bulldozers or cargo containers) at speeds up to 250 km / h, and also became the main means of operational transfer of 198 mm M155 howitzers to the theater, including ready-to-fire 30 ammunition for shots and combat crew of 11 people. By the way, the last buyer of the model “D” was Canada - December 30 2008, the Canadian army received six helicopters. The empty mass of the CH-47D is 10 185 kg, the maximum take-off is 22 680 kg, the crew is three people, the practical ceiling is about 5600 m, the combat range is 741 km, and the ferry is 2252 km. The Chinooks took an active part in the operations of multinational coalitions in the 1991 war in the Persian Gulf, in the operations for invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Machines are still there and are intensively used in the humanitarian and military operations of NATO forces.
Today, the most advanced members of the Chinuk family, CH-47F modification helicopters, are entering the US military units. Machines equipped with digital avionics and new engines (power about 4800 hp) can fly with a load of up to 9500 kg at a speed of at least 280 km / h. The contract for the supply of the US Army over 200 of such machines is estimated at more than 5 billion. The first foreign customer of the F model was the Netherlands - a contract for the supply of six new machines and the modernization of existing CH-47D was signed in February 2007. Last year, Canada also placed an order for CH-47F, deliveries of 15 helicopters are expected in 2013 – 2014. Also last year, the command of the British Armed Forces expressed its intention to acquire CH-47F. From 2012, 24 new machines will be delivered. More recently, 20 March 2010, Australia, has signed a contract for the purchase of seven CH-47F helicopters. Licenses for the assembly of machines transferred to Italy, Japan and the UK.
Another American heavy helicopter, the CH-53, was developed by Sikorsky to meet the requirements of the Marine Corps and US Navy (payload - 3600 kg, range - 190 km, speed 280 km-h). But it turned out to be so successful that it was adopted by the law enforcement agencies of Germany (built under license under the designation CH-53G with two additional fuel tanks), Iran (the country's Navy received six helicopters before the Islamic Revolution), Israel and Mexico. And in the version HH-53В / С "Super Jolly" is used in search and rescue units of the US Air Force.
The contract for the construction of two helicopter prototypes was issued in September 1962. The Marines' command had to overcome the “striving” of the then US Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara to unify the national armed forces TTV fleet by equipping all types and types of troops exclusively with CH-47 “Chinook” machines. As a result, October 14 1964, the first prototype of the new American heavy helicopter lifted into the air for four months before the approved period. Deliveries of serial machines began in 1966, and the following year, CH-53 already went to Vietnam. It was released over 140 helicopters.
The basic version of the CH-53A could carry 38 paratroopers or 24 stretcher wounded or cargo inside the cabin - up to 3600 kg or on an external suspension - up to 5600 kg. Subsequently, an upgraded, more lifting CH-53D version was adopted, capable of taking on board 55 fighters or 24 stretcher wounded and flying to a range of up to 1000 km. And mine action modification RH-53D. And CH-53E “Super Stelone”, taking on 55 military personnel or cargo up to 13 610 kg in the cab or to 16 330 kg on the external suspension.
An interesting episode involving the CH-53 helicopters took place at the end of December 1969 - it was with the help of two such vehicles that Israeli “commandos” penetrated deep into Egyptian territory, “stolen”, removed the newest Soviet Radar P-12 and all related equipment (operation "Rooster 53").
Despite its almost half a century of age, the Super Stelons and Sea Steleons, including the minesweeper helicopters, the old RH-53, which were retooled today back into transport options, and the newest Sea Dragon, MH-53, active operation in the US Armed Forces (in total - about 180 machines), as well as in several other countries of the world.
Currently, the next version of this family, CH-53K, is being developed for the Pentagon, which should replace all other vehicles in the US Armed Forces by 2022. The first flight of the machine is scheduled for November 2011 of the year, ordered by 227 helicopters.
SOVIET GIANT
And yet, after the appearance of the Soviet serial Mi-26 and experimental Mi-12, Western helicopter builders have long remained outsiders in the TTV market. The same CH-47 “Chinook” was almost X times as inferior in terms of payload mass to the first and 1,6 times to the second. Of course, the Americans attempted to reduce the resulting “capacity gap,” for which military aircraft manufacturers and NASA joined forces. For example, for a long time, under the general leadership of the Boeing company, work was carried out on the HLH (Heavy Lift Helicopter - “heavy transport helicopter”), which included the creation of a CHF-2 helicopter with a maximum take-off weight of 62 53 kg in the interests of the US Army. three turboshaft engines and distillation range to 524 km. The corresponding contract for the construction of the prototype was issued by the army in 2800 year. However, the project was closed by the Congress, which considered sufficient for the US Armed Forces of the capabilities of a heavy CH-1973E Super Stellon helicopter. In 53, the United States Defense Advanced Research and Development Agency (DARPA) and NASA attempted to reanimate the project, but did not receive funding again.
Yet the American heavy helicopters who went into the series could not come close in their capabilities to the Mi-26. The 14 of December 1977, which rose into the air, this helicopter giant made another revolution in helicopter construction and set new standards for the TTV: the car could take aboard 80 paratroopers or 60 stretcher wounded or carry a payload weighing up to 20 tons in the cabin. The weight of the empty machine was 28,2 tons, and the maximum take-off - about 56 tons. Even the Americans were forced to admit that in the field of military transport helicopters our Mi-26 has no analogues and is at a height that is completely inaccessible so far (for comparison: the empty mass of the CH-53K is about 15 070 kg, and the maximum take-off is of the order 33 300 kg, the payload mass in the cockpit is 13 600 kg, the maximum payload of the vehicle is 15 900 kg, the maximum landing capacity is 55 fighters, and the crew is five people, including two shooters).
When, in 2002, the Americans needed to evacuate two Chinook helicopters from the mountainous areas of Afghanistan, only the Mi-26 was able to solve this problem. It cost US taxpayers 650 thousand.
In addition, the Mi-26 has already 14 world records, and its technical potential, laid by developers more than 30 years ago, turned out to be so capacious that the MVZ them. Mikhail L. Mile developed at his base such projects as a minesweeper helicopter, a passenger helicopter salon, a fire-fighting helicopter with a jet cannon and catchment rods, electronic warfare helicopters and environmental intelligence.
Despite a fairly advanced age, there is still no replacement for the Mi-26. It still remains the largest and load-lifting among the mass-produced rotary-wing aircraft in the world. However, in order to remain "in the stream" of scientific and technological progress, any sample of equipment must undergo modernization. Therefore, six years ago at the initiative of the cost center them. ML Mil began work on a major modernization of the machine - the new version received the designation Mi-26Т2.
A distinctive feature of it will be the abbreviated crew - only two pilots, as on most modern aircraft, as well as the introduction of new avionics. The developer was faced with the task of creating such an interface “crew-equipment” that would guarantee ensuring safe flight in various conditions. And now a new heavy Mi-26Т2 helicopter is under construction in Rostov-on-Don. His flight tests, as reported by the helicopter builders at the May this year. HeliRussia-2010 exhibition in Moscow, scheduled to begin later this year. It is likely that his show will take place abroad, for example, at the aerospace exhibition in China.
It should be noted that the Mi-26Т2 will be the first representative of the class of heavy helicopters, fully complying with the requirements of the new millennium and absorbing all the achievements of modern science and technology to the maximum. In fact, we are talking about creating an efficient and reliable 24-hour machine that has a reduced crew and is equipped with modern avionics based on the avionics and electronic equipment complex BREO-26, which is based on an aerobatic navigation system with an electronic display system, an onboard digital computer, and a satellite navigation system and digital aerobatic complex. In addition, round-the-clock GOES survey system, a system of backup devices, a modern communication complex and an on-board monitoring system are integrated into the Mi-26Т2 avionics. Thanks to the new avionics complex, the Mi-26Т2 can now be flown at any time of the day, in simple and complex meteorological conditions, including over uncontrolled terrain.
At the same time, in the military version, the Mi-26Т2 will be able to transport the 82 paratrooper, and in the version of the sanitary or, if participating in emergency response, to the 60 wounded (sick). With the help of a helicopter, you can also perform construction and installation work of varying degrees of complexity or carry out prompt delivery of fuel and autonomous refueling of various equipment on the ground, as well as extinguish fires, etc.
EXPORT PERSPECTIVES
Promising markets for the modernized Mi-26Т2 - except, of course, the Russian one - can be European, Southeast Asian and a number of other regional markets where there is a high demand for TTTV. Creating a heavy transport helicopter in Europe is not an easy task, primarily for economic reasons. Therefore, the acquisition of the Mi-26Т2 is an absolutely sound approach that would allow quickly and with the least cost to solve a whole range of problems encountered by European consumers.
It should be recalled here that as early as the beginning of the 2000s, the Allied Command NATO team developed a set of requirements for a heavy helicopter for the rapid reaction force: a modern machine is required that could replace the aging heavy helicopters manufactured in the USA. The need for a new heavy transport helicopter arose also because, despite the deep modernization undertaken by the developers, heavy western helicopters currently in operation cannot provide for the transfer of all ground equipment used by the armies of the NATO countries for air transportation.
A huge amount of work for the promising Mi-26Т2 exists in the states of Africa, Asia, the Middle and Far East. Among the most potential customers of the new machine is China, in which various government departments and private companies show a high interest in getting the TTV into service, adapted to the specific requirements of the Middle Kingdom. The intensification of the negotiations came after analyzing the actions of the Mi-26TS helicopter in the course of mitigating the consequences of the devastating earthquake in the Chinese province of Sichuan, which were evaluated by experts as extremely successful and highly effective. However, so far China has only recognized the type certificate and is acquiring Mi-26TS helicopters in Russia, and the development of the machines necessary for Beijing by joint efforts has been suspended. In this regard, a number of experts were quick to recall the "unique ability" of Chinese industry to create "seamless" versions of weapons and military equipment - almost exact counterparts of Western and Russian designs.
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