NOTE: RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Mil Mi-12 is the largest helicopter ever to fly. It first flew on July 10, 1968.
The helicopter is bigger than a Boeing 727 airliner.
Two prototype Mil Mi-12 aircraft were built. They never met design specifications and the program was canceled. One aircraft remains on display in Russia. The second is said to be at the Leontjewitsch Mil plant in Lyubertsy-Panki.
The helicopter features two-rotors mounted to a wing on top of the fuselage. This is the only example of such a system ever used by Mil, and rare for any relatively modern helicopter. A tail rotor is not necessary for aircraft control, and thus eliminated in the design.
The helicopter used wings to support its weight while flying. Their unique design made their outboard portions wider than where the wings met the airframe.
The Mil Mi-12 had a fuselage and tail unit similar to a fixed wing transport. It had a flight crew of six. The cargo hold measuring 92 ft. (28.15 m) by 14 1/2 ft. (4.4 m) would be able to handle different loads, including troops or handling crews.
Production commenced in 1965 with its first prototype. In 1969, the helicopter set a number of payload to altitude records.
transport
six
4- 5,645 shp ea.
121' 4"
41'
2- 114' 10"
152,020 lbs.
231,412 lbs.
120
55,000 lbs.
132 mph
163 mph
1,720 fpm
11,482 feet
627 miles
1968
Reference Sources:
Aviation's Most Wanted by Steven A. Ruffin - June 24, 2005
Military Helicopter Doctrines of the Major Powers by Matthew Allen - May 30, 1993
Mastering the Sky by James P. Harrison - Oct. 1, 2000)
Principles of Helicopter Aerodynamics by J. G. Leishman - Dec. 23, 2002
Not a Radio Control Helicopter
Mi-12 in flight.
Not a Radio Control Helicopter
Mi-12 from below.
Not a Radio Control Helicopter
Mi-12 from side.
Radio Control Helicopters:
Suggested reading for those considering a rc Mil Mi-12 helicopter:
RC Helicopter by John A. Drake
Safe and Easy Radio Control Helicopters by Nighthawk Publishing
Model rc helicopter Aerobatics by Ray Hostetler
RC Helicopters by Nick Papillon
Flying rc helicopters by David Day
Flying model airplanes & radio control helicopters by Edward L. Safford
The Basics of rc helicopters by Paul Tradelius
RC helicopter from the editors of Model Airplane News
Mil Mi-12
