Mil's Heavylift Helicopters: Mi-6 / Mi-10 / V-10 / Mi-26 - Red Star Vol. 22 [Paperback]

Yefim Gordon (Author), Dmitriy Kommissarov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2005

In the early 1950s a need arose in the Soviet Union for a heavy transport and assault helicopter capable of airlifting cargo weighing up to 6 tons (13,230 lbs) - primarily artillery systems. THe chief Soviet "helicopter maker" - OKB-329 headed by Mikhail L. Mil - took on this important task. The prototype of the V-6 (eventually redesignated Mi-6), which first flew in June 1957, was a much larger machine. For the first time not only in the Mil OKB's practice but also in the world helicopter design practice, the powerplant consisted of two gas turbine engines; another peculiarity was the use of auxiliary wing offloading the main rotor in cruise flight. The Mi-6 provided a major boost to the Soviet Air Force's capability. In 1959 it served as the basis for the unconventional Mi-10 capable of straddling bulky loads. In 1967, however, Mil truly amazed the world by bringing out the mighty V-12 capable of lifting a 25-ton (55,110-lb) payload. This machine was destined to remain in prototype form; yet in 1977 the OKB achieved a major success with the smaller but more advanced Mi-26, which remains the world's largest production helicopter and, like the Mi-6, has rendered invaluable service in both civil and military applications. This book covers the development history and design of all the various types in detail and is well illustrated with numerous photos and line drawings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Midland Publishing Ltd. (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857802063
• ISBN-13: 978-1857802061
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #323,329 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mil's Heavylift Helicopters (Red Star Vol. 22) (Paperback), October 25, 2005

By 

Borislav Delov (Tempe, Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mil's Heavylift Helicopters: Mi-6 / Mi-10 / V-10 / Mi-26 - Red Star Vol. 22 (Paperback)

Long awaited subject, very informative and well researched book. I have several of Yeffim Gordon's books and they are all wonderful. This book covers the design stages and includes pictures of models that did not make it to the finals but that are interesting and one can see the progression of a concept, the things that worked and the things that didn't. The main thread of this and the other books is that they not only are factual but also present some details that are unique from native's point of view.

The photos are mostly black and white and in an age of digital perfection I sometime forget that this is a subject that was classified not so long ago. Nevertheless, I wish there were more close ups and more color photos and that the 3-d drawings include front and top views as well. I understand however that the space is limited and there are four helicopters covered.

It is a great refference material for historians and hobbyists alike and it is a great addition to my library of Soviet Aircrafts!

Borislav

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best about the biggest helicopters ever made, October 5, 2010

By 

Dalton C. Rocha (Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mil's Heavylift Helicopters: Mi-6 / Mi-10 / V-10 / Mi-26 - Red Star Vol. 22 (Paperback)

I read this very good book, here in Brazil. This book is divided into four chapters:
a)Chapter one is about Mi-6. This big helicopter isn't flying today, but during two decades, the Mi-6 was the biggest opperational helicopter flying, in the world.
b)Chapter two is about Mi-10. This big helicopter had big legs. This chapter isn't just about the normal Mi-10, but also about the "short" legged Mi-10 K. Mi-10 remains the heighest helicopter ever made.
c)Chapter three is about the V-12. This massive helicopter had four engines and just two were ever produced. None was used with practical uses.
d)Chapter four is about the Mi-26. This massive helicopter is the only of the four helicopters covered in this book that remains flying and also in production today. About three hundreds Mi-26 were produced(see page 93).
The other reviewer wrote these sentences:"The photos are mostly black and white and in an age of digital perfection I sometime forget that this is a subject that was classified not so long ago. Nevertheless, I wish there were more close ups and more color photos and that the 3-d drawings include front and top views as well. I understand however that the space is limited and there are four helicopters covered."
I agree with these sentences, but I have to give fives stars for this book, because:
1-The authors of this book know, what are they talking about.
2-The quality of the paper is excellent.
3-This book is concise.
4-The text is for the general public, not for aerospace engineers.
5-This book never talks about politics. Science can't be mixed with politics or religion. Please, I'm not a Communist or "Liberal" in American ways.