The Mi-6 has two Soloviev turboshafts attached to a 3,200 kg R-7 gearbox, which is the largest rotor system ever used in a helicopter. This machine achieved 11 load-to-altitude and speed-with-payload FAI world records in 1959, during the flight test, some of which continue in force 60 years later!These helicopters had two removable stub wings that gave them up to 20% of the lift force during cruising speed, which allowed them to save fuel. These wings were removed when the Mi-6 performed tasks such as aerial crane or fire-fighting. These helicopters carry internal deposits for about 6,300 kg of fuel and usually mount two external tanks with an additional 3,500 kg.The load capacity was limited to 12,000 kg inside the fuselage or 9,000 kg suspended externally. Normally it could carry up to 65 troops throughout the cabin and some additional banks, 75 troops in high density configuration in 5 rows of 15 seats or up to 41 stretchers with two medical assistants. The cargo hold measured 11.72 meters long by 2.65 meters wide, with a variable height between 2 and 2.65 meters.Mi-6 was the first helicopter with turbines manufactured in the USSR and the first in the world to fly at 300 km/h. Five prototypes and a preserie of 30 units were manufactured, mostly for the Soviet Air Force. During one of the flight tests it lifted a payload of more than 20 tons, which was more than the weight of the largest western helicopters in service at that time.Mi-6 helicopter had two curved rear cargo doors through which vehicles and palletized cargo entered through hydraulic ramps. It also carried an electric winch of 800 kg capacity to handle the loads. The floor of the cargo bay could support loads of up to 2,000 kg/m2. It was usual the transport of BRDM-1 light armoured vehicles and even tactical rockets from the FROG types.Most of the Mi-6 were delivered to military units, but it was in a civil disaster situation when they appeared on all the tv screens in the world. In April 1986, several Mi-6 were sent to extinguish the fire from the No. 4 nuclear reactor belonging to the Chernobyl plant, forming part of the “liquidators” squadrons sent to the area. After its arduous task, six Mi-6A helicopters were isolated in the contaminated vehicle depot of Rassokha, 25 km southwest from the nuclear power plant.Mi-6 was exported to countries such as Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Egypt, Indonesia, Irak, Libya, Peru or Poland among others. In the picture a Polish Mi-6 carrying a Mig-21 Fishbed fighter. The tactical mobility offered by the Hook-A was superb, being able to carry the same load as a tactical transport plane, but without the need for ready runways for landing.This is the command post variant designated as Mi-6 VKP Hook-B. This helicopter is full of long range communication antennas, and due to this arrangement, the Hook-B has a heat exchanger installed in front of the main landing gear. This helicopter must be landed to carry out its missions and has lost the capacity to carry payloads.This is the Mi-22 Hook-C, another command post variant with an array of antennas different from the Hook-B. This model has also lost the capacity to carry payloads and like the Hook-B have not been exported, serving exclusively in Russia and the former states of the Soviet Union.
