Mil Mi-6 “HOOK-A”

In 1954, Mikhail L. Mil design bureau began to develop a heavy transport helicopter to meet the requirements requested by Aeroflot and WS. In 1957, a gigantic single-rotor helicopter designated as “Izdeliye 50” or “V-6” made its maiden flight. Since this moment, the chopper would be known worldwide by NATO designation as “Mil Mi-6 Hook-A”. Production is believed to have started in 1960 and ceased in 1981 after 900 produced. The Mi-6 has been widely used by Soviet and Russian civil organizations and by more than a dozen countries in the military variant with considerable success. Despite its size, the Hook-A had excellent performances reaching 300 km/h with up to 12,000 kg of payload inside its fuselage. This model was removed from service in 2002, when its Flight Certificate was withdrawn by the Interstate Aviation Committee. This was due a fatal crash and after some reports detected air fatigue in many of their components. The Mi-6 Hook-A was replaced by the “Mi-26 Halo” model, of similar, if not superior performances.

Mi-6 HOOK-A gallery and more info