Mil V-12 First Flight Anniversary

[willedoo]

Today is 44 years since the first flight of the world's largest helicopter, the Mil V-12 (Mi-12).

 

Only two prototypes were built, another example of good, successful design and technology being in the right place at the wrong time. In it's day, it won many awards, among them the Sikorsky Prize from the American Helicopter Society, for outstanding achievements in helicopter technology. It was a bit of a beast, 40' high & 120' long, setting quite a few records such as lifting a 44 tonne payload. MTOW is around 105 tonnes.

 

The first prototype is still at the Mil helicopter plant and the second is at the Monino Air Force Museum.

 

Here's one of those 360 degree click & drag type views of it at the museum,

 

http://www.360cities.net/map#lat=55.83288&lng=38.18597&name=monino-2&zoom=17

 

Cheers, Willie.

 

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