The Mil Mi-6 was an inventory stalwart for the Soviet Union and its allies during the Cold War. For a time, the Mi-6 represented the largest helicopter production airframe in the world and proved to be the fastest such aircraft, netting several world speed records early in her tenure. Her rugged qualities assured her active duty in the far-reaching areas of the Siberian territories and, despite her Cold War roots, she still maintains an active military presence in world air arms - a testament to her design and general usefulness. The Russians retired the type themselves in 2002 as age began creeping into the maintainability and operational costs of this fine rotary aircraft.
Origins
The Mi-6 originated in a joint Soviet Air Force/Aeroflot need for a large, heavy-lift transport helicopter system. Truth be told, the requirement was a staggering endeavor but matched carefully by the veteran engineers at Mil. The resulting design produced the mammoth V-6 prototype series. First flight of the V-6 occurred in September of 1957 with test pilot N.B. Leshin at the controls. By capability alone, the V-6 would be able to match the muscle of such fixed-wing, transport mounts as the American Lockheed C-130 Hercules, proving that the V-6 certainly had some "kick" to her drive train. Her engine and gearbox components were all large elements making up a most powerful internal lift system. The V-6 ultimately graduated to become a full-production model by 1960 and was showcased in the Soviet inventory under the designation of "Mi-6". She quickly garnered the NATO nickname of "Hook" for recognition purposes. It was common practice for NATO to assign (sometimes derogatory) codenames for Soviet-originated aircraft. Fighters took on codenames beginning with the letter "F" (as in "Fishbed" or "Fulcrum") while bombers were given "B" names (as in "Bison" or "Bear"). Helicopters were, therefore, aptly given "H" names (as in "Hind" or "Hip"). The Mi-6 was notable in the annals of Soviet aircraft lore for she became the first turboshaft-powered helicopter to reach both production status and operational service in their ranks. Furthermore, she became the first helicopter anywhere in the world to break 300km/h, setting a speed record in the process.
Production and Marks
NOTE: Soviet aircraft designations are never as "clean" as some might find in Western inventories where "A", "B" and "C" models are ever-prevalent. Instead, models are designated moreso by their inherent function and marked in the Russian language so designations never truly fall into a convenient chronological listing (at least to the Western observer).
Production of this massive helicopter ultimately yielded over 925 examples with examples originating from Soviet factories from 1960 into 1981.
As mentioned above, the Mi-6 began as the V-6 prototype model (also known under the formal designation of "Zavod No.329 Moscow"). Development culminated in the first production models encompassing the generic "Mi-6" designation with these representing the base heavy-lift transport helicopter family. NATO assigned the codename of "Hook-A" to the first production series. These were followed by the Mi-6A, a dedicated civilian transport model that offered impressive seating for up to 90 passengers. The dedicated military transport derivative became known as the Mi-6T (also "Hook-A" by NATO) and sported seating for up to 70 personnel.
Other militarized variants soon followed and included the Mi-6VKP ("Hook-B") Airborne Electronic Warfare (AEW) platform and aerial command post (identified by its many antenna), the Mi-6BUS ("Hook-C") airborne command post, the Mi-6AYaSh ("Hook-D") airborne command post fitting a SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) system, the Mi-6PP electronic reconnaissance platform (with AWAC detection and jamming systems), the Mi-6PRTBV fuel transport, the Mi-6R radio communications platform, the Mi-6S MEDEVAC (MEDical EVACuation) variant with room for up to 41 medical litters and the Mi-6TZ/Mi-6ATZ fuel transports, these used to refuel both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters (though while on the ground and not in-flight).
Of particular note to the Mi-6 variants was the Mi-6M anti-submarine warfare (ASW) platform. This model fitted up to four aerial torpedoes as well as air-to-surface rockets for combating near-surface enemy submarines. The type was further backed by dedicated sub-hunting equipment onboard. Likewise, the militarized Mi-6RVK served as a test-bed for various mobile missile launching systems appearing sometime in 1965.
The Mi-6PS was a specially-modified Search and Rescue (SAR) variant designed to recover the Vostok and Soyuz Soviet space capsules from the sea after re-entry. The Mi-6PSA is thought to be a slightly different version of this modified platform. The Mi-6TP became a convertible hybrid helicopter that could switch from the cargo-transport role to the passenger-transport role with some modification to her cabin.
Mi-6 Walk-Around
Externally, the appearance of the Mi-6 was decidedly in the Cold War Soviet style of helicopter design. She featured a conical, glazed nose cone ahead of her flight deck. The pilots sat aft of the nose cone assembly with vision ports forward (four panels), above (corner panels) and to the sides (two panels). Entry for the cockpit flight crew was through automobile-style doors to either side of the forward fuselage. The cabin made up a large part of the Mi-6 airframe with each fuselage side dotted with round (sometimes square) porthole windows for outward passenger viewing. Entry to the cabin section was via two rectangular, double-hinged doors, one mounted amidships and the other aft. Large wings were high-mounted to each side of the fuselage (these making up some 20% of the aircraft's required lift when in flight) and, at their wing roots, struts help contain and manage the single-wheeled main landing gear legs. Under each wing and main landing gear strut system was an identifiable cylindrical, capsule-shaped appendage. There was a double-tired nose landing gear system just under the cockpit floor. The undercarriage was non-retractable meaning that the landing gears remained statically exposed during all flights. A split-door cargo access area was fitted to the rear of the fuselage for management of freight loads. The empennage ran from the top of the fuselage and tapered off into a thick vertical tail fin. On the vertical tail fin was mounted a four-bladed tail rotor. There were a pair of smallish horizontal planes at the base of the tailfin. The engines were set above the passenger cabin and aft of the flight deck, exhausting out of side-mounted oval vents. The main rotor was affixed atop the airframe aft of the engine compartments and sat close to the fuselage. The dimensions of the main rotor equaled or surpassed the entire running length of the airframe. Unlike Western helicopter designs, the tail rotor (made mostly of wood) was offset to face away from the starboard side of the aircraft (as opposed to the portside). As can be surmised, the amount of rotor "wash" from this aircraft proved immense (not to mention its engine noise) and would have to be seen/felt to be wholly respected. When at rest, the main rotor blades noticeably drooped down towards the ground, giving the viewer some sense of the sheer weight and flexibility inherent in their design.
Power and Performance
Power for the Mi-6 series was supplied by a pair of Soloviev (now Aviadvigatel) brand D-25V turboshaft engines, each delivering up to 5,500 shaft horsepower. This was a required quality for such a large airframe. The output power drove the large-diameter, five-bladed main rotor as well as a four-bladed tail rotor. Performance specifications included a maximum speed of 300km/h with a cruising speed of 250km/h. Her range was listed at approximately 385 miles with a ferry range equal to 900 miles. Her service ceiling was a reported 14,750 feet.
Mi-6 Operators
Operators of the Mi-6 platform were truly a global bunch, covering use in Asia, Africa, South America and the Western Pacific. Military operators included Algeria, Belarus, Bulgaria, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Laos, Peru, Poland, Russia (Soviet Union), Syria, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. The discerning reader will note many relationships (such as Iraq) that are/were within the Soviet sphere of influence at the time of the Mi-6's inception. In terms of the Soviet Empire itself, the Mi-6 served with the Soviet Air Force, Army and Naval Aviation services during her active tenure. Several of these systems were later passed on to successor states. The Bulgarian Air Force has also since retired their fleet of aged Mi-6s. Civilian operators became Aeroflot in the former Soviet Union and Instal of Poland, the latter known to have operated at least three Mi-6A models.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Special-Mission: Airborne Early Warning (AEW)
Specially-equipped platform providing over-battlefield Command and Control (C2) capability for allied aerial elements.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Special-Mission: Electronic Warfare (EW)
Equipped to actively deny adversaries the ElectroMagnetic (EM) spectrum and protect said spectrum for allied forces.
✓Transport
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.
✓Commercial Aviation
Used in roles serving the commercial aviation market, ferrying both passengers and goods over range.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
✓Special Forces
Serving Special Forces / Special Operations elements and missions.
Length
108.9 ft (33.18 m)
Width/Span
114.8 ft (35.00 m)
Height
32.3 ft (9.86 m)
Empty Wgt
60,054 lb (27,240 kg)
MTOW
93,696 lb (42,500 kg)
Wgt Diff
+33,643 lb (+15,260 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Mil Mi-6 (Hook) production variant)
Installed:
2 x Soloviev (Aviadvigatel) D-25V turboshaft engines developing 5,500 shaft horsepower each and driving a five-blade main rotor and four-blade tail rotor.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base Mil Mi-6 (Hook) production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
Typically None. Optional:
Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Variant:
4 x Torpedoes
2 x Air-to-Surface Rockets
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 4
V-6 - Prototype Model
Mi-6 ("Hook-A") - Base Production Series Designation
Mi-6A - Civilian Transport; seating for up to 90 passengers
Mi-6T ("Hook-A") - Military Transport; seating for up to 70 passengers.
Mi-6VKP ("Hook-B") - Airborne Electronic Warfare (AEW) Platform; Airborne Command Post.
Mi-6BUS ("Hook-C") - Airborne Command Post
Mi-6AYa - Similar to Mi-6BUS
Mi-22 - Similar to Mi-6BUS
Mi-6AYaSh ("Hook-D") - Airborne Command Post fitted with SLAR
Mi-6VUS - Similar to Mi-6AYaSh
Mi-6VzPU - Similar to Mi-6AYaSh
Mi-6L - Airborne Laboratory; fitted with D-25VF series turboshaft engines.
Mi-6LL - Airborne Laboratory similar in scope to Mi-6L
Mi-6M - Anti-Submarine Warfare Platform; provision for torpedoes, rockets and specialized sub-hunting systems.
Mi-6P - Passenger Transport; seating for up to 80 passengers.
Mi-6PP - Electronic Reconnaissance Platform; AWACs detection facilities.
Mi-6PR - Developmental Electronic Warfare Platform
Mi-6PRTBV - Modified Mi-6s as mobile technical bases and rocket fuel transports.
Mi-6PS - Modified Search & Rescue (SAR) Platform used in space capsule recoveries at sea.
Mi-6PSA - Modified Mi-6PS
Mi-6PZh
Mi-6PZh2
Mi-6R - Radio Communications Platform
Mi-6RVK - Developmental Mobile Missile Launch Platform
Mi-6S - Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) Variant; room for up to 41 medical litters.
Mi-6TP - Cargo-Passenger Hybrid Transport Model
Mi-6TZ - Fuel Transport Platform
Mi-6ATZ - Fuel Transport Platform
Mi-6VR "Vodoley" - Developmental Mi-6 model for testing various de-icing and main rotor systems.
Mi-10 (Harke) - Aerial Crane variant based in the Mi-6; 55 examples completed; variants also available.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Front right side view of the Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter; color
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A pair of Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopters delivering troops; color
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Underside front view of an Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter delivering paratroopers; color
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Rear right underside view of the Mil Mi-6 Hook delivering a paratrooper; color
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Front left underside view of an incoming Mil Mi-6 Hook heavy helicopter
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An Mil Mi-6 Hook heavy transport helicopter at rest; note size comparison to personnel
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Algeria; Belarus; Bulgaria; China; Egypt; Ethiopia; Indonesia; Iraq; Kazakhstan; Laos; Pakistan; Peru; Poland; Russia; Soviet Union; Syria; Ukraine; Uzbekistan; Vietnam; Zimbabwe
