Mil V-12

11/30/2005. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "Design of the V-12 started in 1965 by a team lead by Mikhail Leontyevich Mil. The purpose of the type was to fulfill the need for a heavy VTOL transport able to carry outsized heavy cargo, similar to that carried by the Antonov An-22. The original specification called for a tandem-rotor system, however Mil claimed that a side-by-side rotor system offered better stability and received approval to proceed.

To avoid designing a complete new rotor system, Mil chose to use two Mil Mi-6 rotor and propulsion systems (with the left rotor mirrored) mounted at the ends of the strutted wing. The fuselage was similar to that of the An-22, the cargo compartment having the same square cross section 14 ft 5.2 in by 14 ft 5.2 in (4.4 m by 4.4 m), although 15 ft 11 in (4.85 m) shorter with a length of 92 ft 4.3 in (28.15 m). Rails in the unobstructed part of the cabin roof carried a crane capable of lifting loads up to 22,046 lb (10,000 kg).

Pilot, co-pilot and flight-engineer, electrician were seated in pairs side-by-side in the lower flight deck in the nose of the fuselage, with the navigator and radio operator seated in tandem in the upper flight deck. About 50 folding seats were placed along the main compartment to seat the troops or work crew accompanying the cargo.

(Nico Braas Collection)

The first prototype was ready early 1967 but heavily damaged during the initial hovering trials, without harm to the crew. The second prototype flew for the first time on July 10, 1968 and flown by Vasily P. Koloshchyenko and his crew this helicopter set records for weight to heights on February 22 and August 6, 1969, ultimately lifting 88,636 lb (40,204.5 kg) to 7,398 ft (2,255 m).

Aeroflot intended to operate the helicopter in remote areas of the Soviet Union in support of the oil and gas industry and other geophysical operations. In a marketing and sales campaign the V-12 would attend the Paris Air Show in 1969, however, due to technical problems the trip was postponed. By 1970 it was clear that the V-12 was not a success, so the trip to Paris in 1971 must be seen as a public relations stunt and in that it was a success. The proposed production version Mi-12 was never built.

(Chris Pinn Collection)

The V-12 was and still is the largest helicopter ever built and the second prototype is preserved at Moscow Monino airport."