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Mi-4
Mi-4-JH01
Mil Mi-4 at Prague Aviation Museum
Role Transport helicopter
Manufacturer Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
First flight 3 June 1952
Introduction 1953
Status Limited Service; North Korean Air Force
Primary users Soviet Air Force
Polish Air Force
Produced 1951–1979
Number built over 4,000 including Z-5s
Variants Harbin Z-5

The Mil Mi-4 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 36",[1] NATO reporting name "Hound")[2] was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles.

Design and development[]

The Mi-4 was designed in response to the American H-19 Chickasaw and the deployment of U.S. helicopters during the Korean War. While the Mi-4 superficially resembles the H-19 Chickasaw, it is a larger helicopter and is able to lift more weight. The first model entered service in 1952, and replaced the Mi-1. The helicopter was first displayed to the outside world in 1952 at the Soviet Aviation Day in Tushino.

One Mi-4 was built with a jettisonable rotor. It served as an experimental vehicle for future pilot's means of safety and ejection designs.[3]

Operational history[]

The Mi-4 transport helicopter laid the beginning of the Soviet Army Aviation, it was widely used both in the armed forces and in the national economy and for several decades remained the main type of helicopter in the inventory of the Soviet Armed Forces and of the Civil Air Fleet. The Mi-4 went out of service with the development of the Mi-8. It is not used by the Russian Air Force anymore, though it remained in service in some countries as a utility helicopter or as a military transport a while longer. Albania was thought to be the final country using the helicopter and by 2005 all were out of service. The Mi-4 played a very important role in Bangladesh liberation war of 1971. The Mi-4 was the workhorse of the Indian Air Force[4] covering the medium lift role at the time. A highly successful heli-borne operation, the Meghna Heli Bridge, using Mi-4s helped the Indian Army's 57 Mountain Division clear the Meghna River. The helilift of a battalion of Indian troops to the outskirts of Sylhet was the first heli-borne operation of the Indian army.

Much like the UH-1 Huey, after it was gradually phased out of military service, it was used in various domestic roles: search and rescue, firefighting, polar expeditioning, construction site cargo helicopter, commercial flights and many others.[3]

An official video of a North Korean Air Force combat flying skills competition released in 2014 shows that the Mi-4 is still in limited service in North Korea.[5]

Variants[]

V-12
Prototype. Designation reused for the Mi-12.
Mi-4 (NATO – Hound-A)
Basic production version.
Mi-4A
Assault transport helicopter.
Mi-4AV
Armed versions based on the Mi-4A. V for Vooruzhenniy (Armed). Mi-4A with additional armament. Modification of 1967 had weapons complex K-4V, included four 9М17М ATGM "Phalanga" and 9657-mm NAR S-5M in six blocks UB-16-57U (or six 100-kg bombs or four 250-kg bombs or tanks with an incendiary substance); 185 helicopters were converted to Mi-4AV.[6]
Mi-4GF
Factory designation for demilitarised Mi-4 for use in the Civil Air Fleet.
Mi-4L Lyukes
Six-seat VIP transport version, sometimes converted into an air ambulance helicopter.
Mi-4VL
Fire-fighting version of Mi-4L.
Mi-4M (NATO – Hound-C)
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter with searching radar station SPRS-1 ("Kurs-M"), hydroacoustic station "Baku", additional fuel tank and rescue boat with operator in under-fuselage gun turret.[7][8]
Mi-4ME
Export modification of Mi-4M.[8]
Mi-4VM
Slightly modified version of Mi-4M, differed by some avionics system.[9]
Mi-4MR
Upgraded version of Mi-4VM with the searching radar station "Rubin-V" instead of "Kurs-M".[9]
Mi-4P / Mi-4VP
Civil transport helicopter, with accommodation for between 8 and 11 passengers, plus eight stretchers and a medical attendant for air ambulance duties.
Mi-4PL (NATO – Hound-B)
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Mi-4PS
SAR version.
Mi-4S Salon
VIP transport helicopter.
Mi-4Skh
Multi-role agricultural helicopter, with a large chemical container in the main cabin. Also used as a fire-fighting helicopter.
Mi-4T
Major military production version, equipped with a large diameter main rotor and bulged windows.
Mi-4VM (VM-12)
Anti-submarine warfare helicopter.
Mi-4BT
Minesweeper with floats.
Mi-4RI
Mi-4M equipped with the Rion experimental sonar.
Mi-4MT
Torpedo-carrying ASW attack (killer) aircraft derived from Mi-4M.
Mi-4MU
Attack helicopter.
Mi-4MO
Search helicopter with Oka sonar.
Mi-4MS
Search helicopter with Soora infra-red sensor.
Mi-4FV (Mi-4KV)
Photographic and guidance helicopter.
Mi-4Schch
"Polar version" of Mi-4FV for working at the Soviet Arctic and Antarctic research stations.
Mi-4SP
Special rescue modification.
Mi-4PG
Experimental version equipped with an external load sling system.
Mi-4SV
Mi-4 with improved heat insulation for working in the Far North.
Mi-4N "Filin" (Horned owl)
Experimental reconnaissance version intended for night-time use.
Mi-4KK (Mi-4VKP)
Mobile command post.
Mi-4KU (Mi-4VPU)
Mobile command post for controlling Air Force units.
Mi-4U
Target-designator version carrying the Oospekh (Success) system.
Mi-4GR
Mi-4 fitted with Grebeshok-3 (Haircomb-3) wide-range panoramic detection and relay radar.
Mi-4TARK
TV-equipped artillery reconnaissance and spotting helicopter.
Mi-4MK (Mi-4PP)
ECM version.
Mi-4UM
Radio-controlled target drone version.
Harbin Z-5
Chinese military transport helicopter. Chinese production version.
Harbin Z-6
Prototype turbine powered version of the Z-5, no production undertaken.
Xuanfeng
Chinese civil transport helicopter. Chinese production version.
Unnamed Variants
  • Mi-4 minelayer version produced by converting troop-carrier helicopters.
  • Mi-4 modified for transporting and laying gas pipelines.
  • Mi-4 with Panorama 360 cin camera system produced by conversion.
  • Mi-4 with the Pristavka (Add-on) radio equipment developed in 1957 for guidance of remote-controlled reconnaissance balloons.
  • Mi-4s used as testbeds. Apart from the above-mentioned versions, the Mi-4 and Mi-4A were widely used as testbeds of various kinds for testing subassemblies and systems of future aircraft, as well as equipment for other branches of industry.

Operators[]

Flag of Afghanistan Afghanistan
Flag of Albania Albania
Mi-4 Riga

MI-4 in Riga aviation museum

Flag of Algeria Algeria
Flag of Bangladesh Bangladesh
Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria
Flag of Cambodia Cambodia
Flag of the People's Republic of China China
Flag of Cuba Cuba
Flag of Czechoslovakia Czechoslovakia
Flag of East Germany East Germany
Flag of Egypt Egypt
Flag of Finland Finland
File:Mil mi-4fi.jpg

Mil Mi-4 of the Finnish Airforce

Flag of Hungary Hungary
Helikopter SFRJ MI-4

A Mil Mi-4 at Belgrade Aviation Museum

Flag of India India
Flag of Indonesia Indonesia
Flag of Iraq Iraq
Flag of the Khmer Republic Khmer Republic
Flag of Mali Mali
Flag of Mongolia Mongolia
Flag of North Korea North Korea
Flag of Poland Poland
Flag of Romania Romania
Flag of Somalia Somalia
Flag of the Soviet Union Soviet Union
Flag of Sudan Sudan
Mil Mi-4 Szolnok 2010 01

a Hungarian Mi-4

Flag of Syria Syria
Flag of Vietnam Vietnam
Flag of North Yemen North Yemen
Flag of SFR Yugoslavia Yugoslavia

Specifications (Mi-4A)[]

MIL Mi-4 HOUND

Mil Mi-4 3-view drawing

Data from www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mi-4-specs.htm

General characteristics

  • Crew: One or two pilots
  • Capacity: 16 troops or up to 1,600 kg (3,520 lb) of cargo
  • Length: 16.80 m (55 ft 1.4 in)
  • Rotor diameter: 21.00 m (68 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.40 m (14 ft 5 in)
  • Disc area: 346.4 m² (3,727 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 5,100 kg (11,220 lb)
  • Loaded weight: 7,150 kg (15,730 lb)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 7,550 kg (16,610 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov ASh-82V radial engine, 1,250 kW (1,675 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 185 km/h (116 mph)
  • Range: 500 km (313 mi)
  • Service ceiling: 5,500 m (18,040 ft)
  • Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
  • Disc loading: 41 kg/m² (8 lb/ft²)
  • Power/mass: 0.21 kW/kg (0.13 hp/lb)

See also[]

Notes[]

  1. "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". Designation-systems.net. 2008-01-18. http://www.designation-systems.net/non-us/soviet.html#_DOD_Type. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  2. "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles". Designation-systems.net. 2008-01-18. http://www.designation-systems.net/non-us/soviet.html#_Listings_Misc. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 John Pike. "Mi-4 HOUND (MIL)". Globalsecurity.org. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/russia/mi-4.htm. Retrieved 2012-10-28. 
  4. "Indian Air Force Gallery :: Mil Mi-4 - Bharat Rakshak" (in en-US). http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/IAF/Galleries/Aircraft/Vintage/Helicopters/Mi4/. 
  5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0yNcM4kV6g
  6. "Миль Ми-4". http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft19963.htm. 
  7. "AKL-201707 AviaCollection 2017/7 Mil Mi-4 Hound Military and Civil Transport Helicopter" (in en). http://modelgrad.com/akl-201707-aviacollection-2017-7-mil-mi-4-hound-military-and-civil-transport-helicopter.html. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Миль Ми-4М". http://www.airwar.ru/enc/sh/mi4m.html. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Миль Ми-4М". http://aviadejavu.ru/Site/Crafts/Craft22112.htm. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 575". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202085.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  11. "Military Helicopter Market 1981 pg. 321". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%202499.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  12. "Military Helicopter Market 1975 pg. 293". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201653.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 576". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202086.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 577". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202091.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 Meyer, Manfred. Mi-1 und Mi-4 - die ersten Hubschrauber, "Fliegerrevue" Nr. 9/1999, p.55-59 (in German)
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 578". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202092.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  17. "Military Helicopter Market 1975 Force Aerienne du Mali". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201679.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  18. "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 579". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202093.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  19. 19.0 19.1 "Military Helicopter Market 1975 pg. 304". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1975/1975%20-%201678.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 580". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202094.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 
  21. "Military Helicopter Market 1981 pg. 372". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%202544.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  22. "Military Helicopter Market 1972 pg. 202". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1972/1972%20-%202045.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  23. "Military Helicopter Market 1981 pg. 374". flightglobal.com. http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%202546.html. Retrieved 3 April 2013. 
  24. 24.0 24.1 24.2 "Military Helicopter Market 1971 pg. 581". http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1971/1971%20-%202097.html. Retrieved 2013-04-03. 

References[]

  • Bill Gunston, An Illustrated Guide to Military Helicopters, Salamander Books Ltd, London 1981. ISBN 978-0861011100
  • Bob Ogden, Aviation Museums and Collections of The Rest of the World, UK: Air-Britain 2008. ISBN 978-0-85130-394-9

External links[]

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

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The original article can be found at Mil Mi-4 and the edit history here.