'The Flying Tank' - Mil Mi-24/Mi-35 'Hind'

• published: 07 Dec 2015
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A Mil Mi-24/Mi-35 'Hind' battlefield attack helicopter of the Czech Air Force 221st Helicopter Squadron based at Namest nad Oslavou, displaying at RAF Fairford during the Royal International Air Tattoo 2015. The Mil Mi-24/35 is a two-engine attack helicopter designed for close air support of ground forces against armoured targets, and for transport of personnel. It has a classic design with a five-bladed main rotor and a three-bladed anti-torque tail rotor. The development of the aircraft commenced in the first half of the 1960s using a dynamic set, drive units and other componets from the Mi-8 helicopter. The first prototype, with late TV2-117 engines,flew in September 1969. The characteristic feature of Mi-24 is cockpit elongated to a cargo compartment with a length of 2.83 metres, width of 1.46 m, and height of 1.2 m. Up to eight paratroopers can conduct fire with small arms through openings in side windows. Vertically opened double-wing doors are at each side of the fuselage. The wingspan is 6.536 metres. The wing helps the vertical motion of the main rotor by up to 30% in higher speeds, and is also a place for suspended weapons. The helicopter is equipped with a three-wheel retractable landing gear with a double-tyred front leg. The Mi-24 is driven by two TV3-117 engines with an output of 1,638 kW each. The Mi-24A type, (NATO code HIND-A), is the first version produced in series since 1972. The Mi-24D type (NATO code HIND-D) was put in operation in 1976, and it is a largely modified Mi-24A type version. A double-seat cockpit has been completely remodelled, the seat of the gunner/pilot is in front of the seat of the pilot/commander of the helicopter. The cockpit is characterised by round "bump" coverings. Under the helicopter nose, there is a revolving turret with a four-barrel rotating 9A624 machine gun of 12.7 mm calibre with a supply of 1,470 cartridges. The additional equipment is hung under four mountings. It is created by four blocks of UB-32 (each with 32 pieces of S-5 missiles of 57 mm calibre), four air bombs of 100 or 250 kg, or two 500 kg bombs, or the same number of napalm containers. It is possible to also use four-fold rocket launchers for air-to-ground 122 mm rockets. At each wing tip there are mountings for two anti-tank guided missiles of type 9M 17P of the FALANGA system. The Mi-24DU type is a training version of the Mi-24D but without a nose turret. The Mi-24V type, (NATO code HIND-E), is another advanced version that came from the Mi-24D type. The major change is in the use of a STURM-V device, which is the modern and more efficient navigation system, and the use of 9M 114 (AT-6 SPIRAL) anti-tank guided missiles, which are fired from two cylinder containers mounted at each wing tip. The equipment of the helicopter was further reinforced with B-8V blocks for 20 rockets of S-8 type of 80 mm calibre, cannon containers UPK-23-250 with two-barrel cannon GS-23L having a supply of 250 cartridges, universal weapons containers GUV9A with the mounting prepared for installation of automatic grenade launchers 9-A-800 of 30 mm calibre, or one four-barrel machine gun 9-A-624 of 12.7 mm calibre, and two four-barrel machine guns 9-A-622 of 7.62 mm calibre. It was equipped with the improved higher flight-level characteristics of TV3-117V engines, and with a mounting for installation of outlet gas coolers, and for additional fuel tanks with a capacity of 450 litres. Basic Tactical-technical Data High-speed cruise: 310 km per hour Typical cruise speed: 260 km per hour Maximum flight distance: 750 km Tactical operating range: 160 km Flight ceiling: 4,500 metres Climbing close to surface: 750 metres per minute Payload: 2,400 kg Weight of empty helicopter: 8,400 kg Maximum take-off weight: 12,500 kg Length with rotating blades: 19.79 metres Fuselage length: 17.51 metres Height: 6.5 metres Diameter of the main rotor: 17.3 metres Diameter of the tail rotor: 3.908 metres Video and Audio content is Copyright © 2015 Stephen Keeler This video and audio material may not be reproduced in any form (except as the videos Youtube embedded video option on any other website), without written permission.