Mil Mi-1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mi-1 | |
|---|---|
 Mil Mi-1M |
|
| Type | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Mil |
| Maiden flight | 20 September 1948[1] |
| Introduction | 1950 |
| Primary user | Soviet Air Force |
| Number built | >2,594 |
The Mil Mi-1 (originally known to US intelligence as the Type-32 and later by the NATO reporting name "Hare") was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one 575 hp Ivchenko AI-26V radial. It entered service in 1950 and was first seen on the 1951 Soviet Aviation Day, Tushino and was produced for 16 years. More than 1,000 were built in the USSR and 1,594 in Poland, as SM-1.
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[edit] Development
Mikhail Mil began work on rotary-winged aircraft before 1930, but the Mi-1, his first production helicopter, was begun in 1946, under a designation EG-1. In 1947 Mil became a head of OKB-4 design bureau in Tushino, and works were intensified. A final design was named GM-1 (for Gelikopter Mila). Its design owed much to the Sikorsky S-51 and Bristol 171, with almost identical main rotor to the British machine and similar shafting and clutch. The prototype completed first free flight on 20 September, 1948 (pilot Mikhail Baikalov)[1]. In 1949 it underwent official state trials. Despite crashes of two prototypes[2], the design was overally successful and after further work, was ordered for a production, under a new designation Mi-1, for Mil initials. The production was initially limited - the first series of only 15 machines was ordered on 21 February, 1950, in factory No.3 in Moscow. Only after presentation to Joseph Stalin in 1951, the authorities decided to increase production. In 1952-1953, 30 Mi-1 were manufactured in Kazan, and from 1954 a mass production started in Orenburg and from 1956 in Rostov[1]. The design was a subject of further improvements during production, mostly increasing reliability. Especially a rotor technology was changing. Period between repair increased to 300 hours in Mi-1T (hence a letter T for trekhsotchasovoi), 600 in Mi-1A, then to 1000 and 3000 hours by the end of production.
All early variants seated pilot in front and two passengers behind him, in common cabin[3]. The first production variant was Mi-1, quickly replaced by improved Mi-1T, that carried extra operational equipment including full radio and blind-flying instruments, and had more reliable engine AI-26V[4]. The next basic variant was Mi-1A of 1957, with further increased reliability and provisions for one 160 l external fuel tank[5].
New major variant, Mi-1M of 1957, introduced enlarged cabin and slightly stronger engine AI-26VF, what allowed to accommodate three passengers on a bench behind the pilot. Cabin height increased from 1.22 to 1.26 m and width from 1.01 to 1.2 m. Most noticeable difference was horizontal bottom windows' line instead of slanted, with bigger rear side windows, and less pointed fuselage nose. It could also be fitted with two external side capsules for the injured or mail[6]. There were trials of armed variants, but they were unsuccessful due to small payload.
Well over 1000 of all variants were built in the USSR, including a proportion of dual-control trainers: Mi-1U, TU, AU, MU, with instructor seated behind a trainee. 15 were produced in Moscow in 1950, 30 in Kazan in 1952-1953, 597 in Orenburg in 1954-1958 and 370 in Rostov in 1956-1960[1]. In 1956 license-production of the four-seat model began in Poland, at WSK PZL-Świdnik, where 1,594 were built in about ten years, under a designation SM-1. Several new versions were developed at Swidnik, including the SM-2 five-seater, with a new fuselage.
[edit] Variants
- GM-1
- The original designation of the Mil Mi-1 prototypes, powered by a AI-26GR 500-550 hp radial engine (later AI-26GRF).
- Mi-1
- Three-seat light general-purpose helicopter, seating a pilot and two passengers, powered by a AI-26GRF 575 hp radial piston engine. Initial production model.
- Mi-1T
- Three-seat general-purpose transport helicopter, seating a pilot and two passengers, powered by a AI-26V radial piston engine.
- Mi-1KR (TKR)
- Light reconnaissance and liaison helicopter of 1956, basing on Mi-1T.[4]
- Mi-1NKh
- Three-seat general-purpose utility helicopter, basing on Mi-1T. Designed to be used as an agricultural aircraft, air ambulance, passenger transport, air mail, freight transport helicopter (NKh - narodnoye khozyastvo - National Economy).
- Mi-1A
- Three-seat general-purpose transport helicopter of 1957, seating a pilot and two passengers, with increased reliability.
- Mi-1AKR
- Light reconnaissance and liaison helicopter, basing on Mi-1A.[5]
- Mi-1U/TU/AU/MU
- Dual-control training helicopter variants (respectively, of basic Mi-1, T, A and M models).
- Mi-1M
- Four-seat light general-purpose helicopter of 1957, seating a pilot and three passengers. Visible changes are: raised roof above a cabin, blunter nose shape, and horizontal bottom windows' line instead of slanted.
- Mi-1M Moskvich
- Civil transport helicopter for Aeroflot, with better cabin soundproofing, equipped with hydraulic controls and an all-metal rotor.
- Mi-1MNKh
- Four-seat general-purpose utility helicopter, basing on Mi-1M. Designed to be used as an agricultural aircraft, air ambulance, passenger transport, air mail, freight transport helicopter (NKh - narodnoye khozyastvo - National Economy).
- Mi-1MG
- Float-equipped version of the Mi-1M for whaling ships, of 1958 (2 made).[6]
- Mi-1MRK
- Light liaison helicopter, basing on Mi-1M (razvedyvatelno-korrektirovochnoi - reconnaissance-artillery correcting).
- SM-1
- Polish production version, powered by a LiT-3 radial piston engine. The Mil Mi-1 helicopter built by WSK PZL-Świdnik under licence in Poland.
- SM-1/600
- Polish production version with increased reliability, of 1957.
- SM-1W
- Polish production version of the Mi-1M(MNKh), of 1960.
- SM-1WS
- Air ambulance helicopter.
- SM-1WSZ
- Dual-control training helicopter.
- SM-1WZ
- Agricultural helicopter.
- SM-2
- Improved Polish version with a stretched fuselage, seating a pilot and four passengers.
[edit] Operators
- Afghan Air Force - 12 acquired from 1957 and withdrawn from service by 1976[7].
- Albanian Air Force - 3 in service from 1957 through 1960[7].
- Bulgarian Air Force - Withdrawn from service in the 1990s.
- Finnish Air Force - 4 in service 1961–1967.
[edit] Specifications (Mil Mi-1)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Capacity: 2 passengers or 255 kg (561 lb) of cargo
- Length: 12.09 m (39 ft 8 in)
- Rotor diameter: 14.35 m (47 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.30 m (10 ft 10 in)
- Disc area: 161.7 m² (1,740 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,700 kg (3,740 lb)
- Loaded weight: 2,140 kg (4,708 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 2,330 kg (5,126 lb)
- Powerplant: 1× Ivchenko AI-26V radial engine, 429 kW (575 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 185 km/h (115 mph)
- Range: 430 km (268 mi)
- Service ceiling 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
- Rate of climb: 5.3 m/s (1,043 ft/min)
- Disc loading: 13 kg/m² (3 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.20 kW/kg (0.12 hp/lb)
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Mi-1 at Ugolok Neba (Russian)
- ^ On 24 November, 1948, in which Mikhail Baikalov bailed out, and on 7 March, 1949, in which Baikalov died
- ^ Grzegorzewski, 1975 and Mi-1 at Ugolok neba
- ^ a b Grzegorzewski, 1975 and Mi-1T at Ugolok neba
- ^ a b Grzegorzewski, 1975 and Mi-1A at Ugolok neba
- ^ a b Grzegorzewski, 1975 and Mi-1M at Ugolok neba
- ^ a b "Historical Listings", World Air Forces.
- Grzegorzewski, Jerzy: Śmigłowiec Mi-1, Typy Broni i Uzbrojenia nr.38, MON, Warsaw, 1975 (Polish)
- http://www.aviation.ru/Mi/#1
[edit] External links
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