Mi-1 helicopter: history of creation, specifications, power and description with photo

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The creation of aircraft has always interested engineers. Starting with aircraft that could fly at low altitudes, engineers moved on to smaller devices that could take to the air in tight spaces. They have become indispensable in many industries, but have come a long way before that.

In September 1948, a pioneer of the Soviet helicopter industry was created, which was named Mi-1. Of course, there were attempts to create rotary-wing flying machines even before the war, but their designs had their drawbacks and could not boast of the same controllability.

The Mi-1 helicopter has become a real legend. The creation of this machine allowed the developers to move far ahead. And to this day, it is the technologies of 48 that are the basis for the creation of more powerful modern units. Therefore, it is not surprising that even in shops with models, toy copies of the Mi-1 helicopter 1:144 and in other scales are very popular.

History of Creation

The developer of this unique helicopter was ML Mil. Initially, the creator called his brainchild GM-1. Helicopterbeen developed for many years. Dozens of engineers studied the developments of foreign colleagues and the experience of Soviet developers.

It is worth noting that at that time the USSR was armed with only one helicopter engine, which was developed by A. G. Ivchenko. The power unit could reach speeds of up to 500-550 hp. It was this engine of the Mi-1 helicopter that became the first and most famous.

Initially, the GM-1 was designed as a communications vehicle. It was assumed that two passengers and a pilot could be accommodated on board the helicopter. At the same time, the helicopter looked very much like models that can be seen in the air today.

Mi-1 helicopter: description

The machine is equipped with a main rotor with a diameter of just over 14 meters and a tail rotor with a diameter of 2.5 m. The blades of the unit taper towards the end and are attached to the hub using vertical and horizontal swivel joints.

Already at that time, the design of the Mi-1 helicopter implied the presence of friction dampers. They are designed to dampen the vibrations that are created during the operation of the blades. Moreover, the last elements require special attention.

Blade design features

These items are among the most important. The blades are of mixed design. It contains steel telescopic tubes, wooden stringers and ribs. Sheathing is made of dense plywood.

The Mi-1 helicopter is equipped with blades with variable cyclic pitch. It changes depending on the position of the swashplate, which is located under the hub.

Also, the developer faced the issue of eliminating the loss of stability of the mechanism. Miles decided to use a special cardan in the blade control roller.

Fuselage

The body of the aircraft can be divided into front, center and rear parts. The frontal zone consists of a welded truss, to which the frame of the helicopter cabin itself (including duralumin skin) is connected.

The middle part of the aircraft is a glazed cockpit that can accommodate the pilot and several passengers, for whom there is a two-seat sofa (located behind the seat of the one who controls the aircraft). Behind it is the engine compartment, in which the motor, the main gearbox of the two-stage type, the brake, the combined clutch are installed. Also in the rear, behind the cab, there is a 240-liter gas tank. If necessary (if a longer flight was planned), it was possible to install another container with gasoline.

Also in the rear of the fuselage is a tail boom made of solid metal. There is also a transmission shaft and an intermediate type gearbox. At the very end, a three-bladed tail propeller is installed.

How the tests went

The first experimental aircraft were produced at the airbase in Kyiv. However, after the release of the prototype model, the developers were faced with the task of testing it. To do this, it was decided to transfer the Mi-1 helicopter to another airfield, located in Zakharkovo.

September 20 of the same year was first performedflying this aircraft. At the same time, the helicopter was able to hover in the air on a binding. After another 10 days, the GM-1 made its first full-fledged flight and reached speeds, first to 50, and then to 100 km/h.

However, not everything went so smoothly. For example, the first two helicopters could not cope with the task and were lost. The first prototype crashed in late autumn 1948. During the flight, the lubrication of the control mechanisms froze. Because of this, the pilot had to urgently leave the device. At that moment, pilot K. Baikalov was flying the helicopter. He stayed alive. The next accident occurred in the spring of 1949. Since the welding was of poor quality, the propeller shaft of the helicopter simply fell apart. At that moment, Baikalov was also driving the car. Unfortunately, the pilot did not have time to leave the unit and died.

Despite the fact that two experimental models at once could not prove their suitability and the rather skeptical attitude of some models, development continued. Therefore, in the summer of 1949, a third machine was created with a modified tail shaft. Engineers have eliminated the need for welding, which would require increased attention and quality of work. A new type of lubricant for control mechanisms has also been developed. The new fluid was resistant to low temperatures.

Mil decided to limit the unit's flight altitude to 3,000 meters. In the autumn of the same year, the first tests began, which were successfully completed by November.

Refining the model

Despite the rather successful tests, the military had some comments on the device. First of all, they wanted to improve the control technique to make piloting easier. It also needed to reduce vibration levels and simplify ground operations.

In 1950, taking into account all the comments, the GM-1 was finalized and passed a new series of tests, including an emergency landing if the car is in autorotation mode. After that, the helicopter was handed over to the military. They did more testing. The machine was tested for the possibility of landing in mountainous terrain.

In 1950, the state decided to create a series of experimental models of 15 GM-1 machines, which for the first time were to receive their final name Mi-1. As many note, at that time the importance of the aircraft was underestimated not only by the military, but also in the national economy. Therefore, Mil's "first-born" Mi-1 helicopter entered large-scale production with a delay. However, the situation changed radically when the experimental model was shown to IV Stalin. He was also informed that the development of rotary-wing technology is also being carried out in the United States. Therefore, it was decided that it was time to mass-produce the Mi-1 airborne transport helicopter, the photo of which shows that it is the basis of most modern models.

First production models

Transport aviation pilots underwent retraining in Serpukhov and gradually mastered new aircraft. The state planned the mass launch of the Mi-1 helicopter and introduce it into transport aviation. However, the apparatus was more widely used in motorized rifle divisions, which were later transformed into squadrons. After repeated tests in Serpukhov, the military had almost no complaints about the helicopter. However, there were comments regarding the operation of the maintenance features of the units on the ground.

Use area

The picture shows the Mi-1 helicopter (picture above) and it looks like a military vehicle, and it was really widely used for a variety of purposes. For example, he entered service with the courier services. The aircraft was used in reconnaissance and for patrolling the borders, rescue operations and sanitation.

For the first time, the Mi-1 helicopter took part in hostilities in 1956, when the so-called Hungarian events took place. Later, military vehicles were used in Czechoslovakia for the same purposes.

However, few people know that it was originally planned to use a helicopter to train pilots flying propeller-driven vehicles. Therefore, MI-1 also entered military schools.

Also, the helicopter was used in the economic sector. MI-1 was successfully used to transport people, parcels and other small cargo. With the help of aircraft of this type, chemical treatment of farms was carried out. Helicopters were also used for whale reconnaissance, checking forests and much more. Since 1954, MI-1 has appeared in Civil Aviation. Gradually, the helicopter began to be used for peaceful purposes around the world.

Attitude towards aircraft abroad

The MI-1 model had excellent flight qualities. Moreover, as many as 27 world records were set on this machine, which for that time was an amazing result. For example, in 1959, pilot F. I. Belushkin managed to fly an aircraft to a height of 6700 meters. A little later, the MI-1 helicopter speed record was set. Pilot V. V. Vinitsky was able to accelerate the car to 210 km/h.

It is worth noting that in all its characteristics this model has never been inferior to Western counterparts. Foreign pilots who got the opportunity to operate this unit noted that this model is a breakthrough in the field of helicopter construction. Thanks to this, the Mi-1 gained worldwide popularity and began to enter service with many countries.

For example, the aircraft is widely accepted in China. There, the Mi-1 helicopter was used in many police operations. In Egypt, the car took part in conflicts with the Israeli side.

Starting from 1955, the production of the Mi-1 was transferred to Poland, where the serial production of the model began. The foreign unit was named SM-1. By and large, it was with this model that the helicopter industry began in this country. Until 1965, more than 1680 helicopters rolled off the assembly lines. Most of them were sent back to the USSR.

Follow-up developments

Of course, after such a success, the improvement of the helicopter continued. Engineers have focused on improved design, as well as the reliability of the aircraft. Against this background, by 1956The spars of the helicopter blades were replaced with one-piece elements made of durable steel pipes.

A year later, the helicopter was equipped with already pressed spars. However, at that time, the country's metallurgy was not at such a high level as it is now, so the specialists did not have enough experience in pressing long profiles. Therefore, a new technology had to be developed to create more reliable elements.

Subsequently, the Mi-1 and Mi-2 helicopters (new versions were assembled in Poland from parts sent from the USSR in 1965) were equipped with more advanced controls. The system has become more complete and has combined all the necessary nodes. The helicopter also received a controlled stabilizer, external suspension and anti-icing systems.

Subsequent upgrades have become more convenient. For example, it became possible to transport four passengers at once. The double sofa was also behind the pilot. But two more additional seats appeared, which were located next to the pilot. Specifications have been improved. The helicopter was equipped with more voluminous gas tanks of 600 liters. Thanks to all this, the car was able to make longer flights and climb to a greater height. The problems of servicing the device on the ground and in severe weather conditions were solved.

Highly specialized modifications of helicopters have also appeared. For example, there are models that are equipped with a wider door, which helps to install a stretcher with victims inside the cabin. Therefore, with the power of the aircraft, it became possible to carry outrescue work. It is noteworthy that some were skeptical that stretchers and other equipment would not adversely affect the functionality of the helicopter. However, during the tests, no problems arose. In terms of their functionality, the upgraded models are in no way inferior to the first Mi-1 in terms of their technical characteristics and other indicators.

Interesting facts about the Mi-2 helicopter

It is worth noting that this aircraft is still a very popular and truly legendary model. And today the Mi-1, Mi-2 and more modern helicopters based on the GM-1 are successfully used for border patrols with the possibility of using loudspeakers.

During the disaster that happened in 1986 in Chernobyl, these aircraft were used in attempts to eliminate the consequences of the accident.

Since 1978, the model of this helicopter has been taking part in all world championships. Those who are fond of helicopter sports have seen this legendary model mentioned more than once.

In 2006 Mi series helicopters were deployed to Iraq. There they were not used for military operations, but as a technique that was designed to help the owners of rural farms. Due to their characteristics, helicopters of this series are capable of spraying pesticides on an area of more than 28,000 hectares in a few weeks. For the same purposes, they were used in Russia.

Private collectors are willing to give crazy amounts of money to get theseaircrafts. Children are happy to assemble models of Mi-1 helicopters 72:1 and in other scales. Monuments were also erected to these aircraft. For example, beautiful pedestals can be found in Moscow, the northern capital, Kurgan, Vorkuta and many other cities. This once again confirms that the Mi-1 has become a real breakthrough in the helicopter industry.

It is noteworthy that this helicopter aroused great interest not only among the military and in agriculture. Even directors of the highest-grossing Soviet films became interested in the Mi-2. For example, this helicopter appeared in the film "Mimino", "Crew" and many others. In one of the most popular series "Truckers" you can also see this particular aircraft. It is also often shown in foreign films. Thus, even with its appearance, this unit is of great interest to people who have nothing to do with the helicopter industry.

In closing

Mi series helicopters, which have come a long way since 1948, have become true legends. Dozens of countries took up their production, which appreciated the developments of Soviet engineers. Until now, modern helicopter technologies are based precisely on Mil's developments. Therefore, we can say that this aircraft has become world famous.