Mil Mi-1 Hare
Summary
| Category | Helicopter |
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 Ex-USSR |
| First flight | 20 September 1948 |
| Year of introduction | 1950 |
| Number produced | 2594 units |
| Average unit price | $0.1 million |
Description
The Mil Mi-1, codenamed "Hare" by NATO, is a Soviet light helicopter that marked the beginning of the helicopter industry in the Soviet Union.
The Mi-1 made its first flight in September 1948 and entered service in 1950. It was primarily used for transport missions, medical evacuations, and agricultural surveillance. Equipped with a three-blade main rotor and a Shvetsov ASh-82V radial engine, it could transport up to three passengers in addition to the crew.
With its compact fuselage and simple design, the Mi-1 was easy to maneuver and suited for operations in difficult-to-reach areas. It was widely used in rural and isolated regions of the Soviet Union, as well as in Warsaw Pact countries and other countries in the Eastern Bloc.
The initial production variant was the Mi-1, followed by the improved Mi-1T, which featured enhanced equipment and a more reliable engine. In 1957, the Mi-1A was introduced with further reliability improvements and provisions for an external fuel tank. The main variant, the Mi-1M, introduced in 1957, had an enlarged cabin and a more powerful engine, allowing for three passengers. It featured a redesigned fuselage structure with larger windows and increased cabin dimensions.
Over time, other versions of the Mi-1 were developed, including for specific missions such as observation and firefighting.
The Mi-1 had significant production in the USSR, with nearly 2,600 units built in different versions. Additionally, a four-seat model called the SM-1 was produced under license in Poland, with over 1,500 units manufactured. The Mi-1 and SM-2 helicopters set several international records in their category.
Technical specifications
| Version: Mi-1 | |
|---|---|
| Crew | 1 pilot |
| Operational range | 430 km (267 mi) |
| Maximum speed | 185 km/h (115 mph) |
| Wingspan | 14.4 m (47.1 ft) |
| Height | 3.3 m (10.8 ft) |
| Length | 12.1 m (39.7 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 3500 m (11483 ft) |
| Empty weight | 1700 kg (3748 lbs) |
| Max. takeoff weight | 2330 kg (5137 lbs) |
| Climb rate | 5.3 m/s (17.4 ft/s) |
| Powerplant | 1 × radial engine Ivchenko-Progress AI-26V delivering 423 kW |
Current operating countries
No country is operating the Mi-1 Hare in 2024.
All operators
Afghanistan • Albania • China • Cuba • Ex-East Germany • Algeria • Egypt • Finland • Hungary • Iraq • Mongolia • Poland • North Korea • Romania • Sudan • Syria • Ex-Czechoslovakia • Ex-USSR • Vietnam • Yemen
Photo of Mi-1 Hare
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