Mi-10

The Mil Mi-10 (NATO reporting name Harke) is a Soviet military transport helicopter of flying crane configuration developed from the Mi-6. Following a 20 February 1958 directive, OKB-329 (OKB Mil) designed the aircraft to transport bulky loads. The first prototype, designated V-10, completed its first flight on 15 June 1960. State acceptance trials were passed in 1961, and serial production began on 5 March 1964 at the Rostov-on-Don factory. Between 1964 and 1969, the factory built 40 long-legged Mi-10 helicopters. The Mi-10 entered Soviet military service in 1963.

Design

The helicopter utilizes the dynamic components and two 4,100 kW Soloviev D-25V turboshaft engines of the Mi-6. Its design features a slim fuselage mounted on four tall, strut-braced undercarriage legs with a wide track that allows the aircraft to taxi over cargo. The cabin accommodates 28 passengers or 3 tonnes of internal cargo loaded through a side door. Externally, the Mi-10 can transport loads up to 15 tonnes on an 8.5 m by 3.6 m pallet, or up to 8 tonnes via an external sling system under the center fuselage. The aircraft's flight characteristics without a load were unstable, requiring a rolling take-off that often induced nose-wheel shimmy.

Operational History

Due to shifts in ballistic missile technology, the Soviet Air Force converted most long-legged Mi-10s into Mi-10PP airborne electronic countermeasures helicopters. These units carried a fuselage-mounted ST-900 Step electronic countermeasures pod on a pallet. Operational users of the Mi-10 included the Soviet Air Force, Aeroflot, and later Russia's UTair. Most versions were retired by 2009, though the short-legged Mi-10K remained in service as of 2014.

Variants

• Mi-10: The initial standard long-legged production helicopter.
• Mi-10K: A short-legged flying crane variant featuring a ventral gondola with auxiliary flying controls.
• Mi-10PP: An electronic countermeasures variant equipped with a fuselage-mounted jamming pod.
• Mi-10GR: A single production helicopter configured for electronic intelligence duties with direction-finding equipment.
• Mi-10RVK: A prototype heliborne missile system variant designed to carry tactical missiles and launcher vehicles.