Mil Mi-4
Encyclopedia
The Mil
Mi-4 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 36", NATO reporting name "Hound".) was a Soviet transport helicopter
that served in both military and civilian roles.
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 safety and ejection designs.
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 Army
at the time. A highly successful heli-borne operation 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.
Mi-4 (NATO - Hound-A)
Mi-4A
Mi-4AV
Mi-4GF
Mi-4L Lyukes
Mi-4VL
Mi-4M (NATO - Hound-C)
Mi-4MR
Mi-4P / Mi-4VP
Mi-4PL (NATO - Hound-B)
Mi-4PS
Mi-4S Salon
Mi-4Skh
Mi-4T
Mi-4VM (VM-12)
Mi-4BT
Mi-4RI
Mi-4MT
Mi-4MU
Mi-4MO
Mi-4MS
Mi-4FV (Mi-4KV)
Mi-4Schch
Mi-4SP
Mi-4PG
Mi-4SV
Mi-4N "Filin" (Horned owl)
Mi-4KK (Mi-4VKP)
Mi-4KU (Mi-4VPU)
Mi-4U
Mi-4GR
Mi-4TARK
Mi-4MK (Mi-4PP)
Mi-4UM
Harbin Z-5
Harbin Z-6
Xuanfeng
Unnamed Variants
from 1963, withdrawing the last from service in 1997.
: 59 total examples acquired by the Albanian Air Force
from 1957, including 37 Z-5 versions from 1967. These were reported in service as late as 2004.
: Algerian Air Force
: People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Air Force
: 4 in service 1985-1989
: Cambodian Air Force
: Cameroon Air Force
operated 1.
: One example, of the FAR (Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) is displayed at the Museo del Aire (Cuba)
: Czechoslovakian Air Force
:
: 3 units were in service with the Finnish Air Force
from 1962-1979.
: Hungarian Air Force
: Indian Air Force
: Indonesian Air Force
: Iraqi Air Force
: Mongolian People's Air Force
: North Korean Air Force
: Somali Air Corps
South Yemen
: Syrian Air Force
: Sudanese Air Force
: Vietnam People's Air Force
: Yemen Air Force
: Yugoslav Air Force
operated 25, withdrawn in 1970s.
Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant
Mil Helicopters is the short name of the Soviet Russian helicopter producer Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant , named after the constructor Mikhail Mil. Mil participates in the Euromil joint venture with Eurocopter....
Mi-4 (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 36", NATO reporting name "Hound".) was a Soviet transport helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
that served in both military and civilian roles.
Design and development
The Mi-4 was designed in response to the American H-19 ChickasawH-19 Chickasaw
For other uses of "H19" see H19 .The Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw, was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army and United States Air Force. It was also license-built by Westland Aircraft as the Westland Whirlwind in the United Kingdom...
and the deployment of U.S. helicopters during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. 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
Mil Mi-1
The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 The Mil Mi-1 ( (USAF/DoD reporting name "Type 32", NATO reporting name "Hare") was a Soviet three- or four-seat light utility helicopter. It was the first Soviet helicopter to enter serial production. It is powered by one 575 hp Ivchenko AI-26V radial. It entered...
. The helicopter was first displayed to the outside world in 1952 at the Soviet Aviation Day in Tushino
Tushino
Tushino is a former village and town to the north of Moscow, which has been part of the city's area since 1960. Between 1939 and 1960, Tushino was classed as a separate town. The Skhodnya River flows across the southern part of Tushino....
.
One Mi-4 was built with a jettisonable rotor
Helicopter rotor
A helicopter main rotor or rotor system is a type of fan that is used to generate both the aerodynamic lift force that supports the weight of the helicopter, and thrust which counteracts aerodynamic drag in forward flight...
. It served as an experimental vehicle for future pilot safety and ejection designs.
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 ForcesSoviet Armed Forces
The Soviet Armed Forces, also called the Armed Forces of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and Armed Forces of the Soviet Union refers to the armed forces of the Russian SFSR , and Soviet Union from their beginnings in the...
and of the Civil Air Fleet. The Mi-4 went out of service with the development of the Mi-8
Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter, and is used by over 50 countries. Russia is the largest operator of the Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopter....
. 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
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
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 Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
at the time. A highly successful heli-borne operation using Mi-4s helped the Indian Army's 57 Mountain Division clear the Meghna River
Meghna River
The Meghna River is an important river in Bangladesh, one of the three that forms the Ganges Delta, the largest on earth fanning out to the Bay of Bengal. Being a part of the Surma-Meghna River System, Meghna is formed inside Bangladesh by the joining of different rivers originaing from the hilly...
. The helilift of a battalion of Indian troops to the outskirts of Sylhet
Sylhet
Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
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.
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.
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)
- Armed close-support helicopter, fitted with a gun turret. Designation alternatively applied to the Mi-4VM, and also reused for ambulance variant for the Soviet Ministry of Health. Export designation Mi-4ME.
Mi-4MR
- Upgraded version of Mi-4VM.
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
Harbin Z-5
The Harbin Z-5 is a Chinese copy of the Soviet Mil Mi-4 piston engined helicopter. It was produced in the city of Harbin, China. The USSR provided China with blueprints in 1958, a few years before the Sino-Soviet split. The first flight was in 1959, but serial production was delayed and didn't...
- 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.
Military operators
: 18 acquired by the Royal Afghan Air ForceAfghan Air Force
The Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...
from 1963, withdrawing the last from service in 1997.
: 59 total examples acquired by the Albanian Air Force
Albanian Air Force
The Albanian Air Force is the national Air Force of the Albanian military. Currently it operates under the Albanian Joint Forces Command and it is regrouped in the Albanian Air Brigade...
from 1957, including 37 Z-5 versions from 1967. These were reported in service as late as 2004.
: Algerian Air Force
Algerian Air Force
The Algerian Air Force is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's Military.- Inventory :- External links : http://www.algaf.bravehost.com/index.htm http://www.avions-militaires.net/dossiers/armee-air/dza.php...
: People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola
The National Air Force of Angola is the air branch of the Armed Forces of Angola.FAN was established, after the independence of Angola from Portugal, on January 21, 1976 as the People's Air and Air Defence Force of Angola and initially made use of the...
Bangladesh: Bangladesh Air ForceBangladesh Air Force
The Bangladesh Air Force , is the air arm of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh Air Force currently employs more than 22,000 personnel including 600+ Pilots.-History:...
- Bulgarian Air ForceBulgarian Air ForceThe Bulgarian Air Force is a branch of the Military of Bulgaria, the other two being the Bulgarian Navy and Bulgarian land forces. Its mission is to guard and protect the sovereignty of Bulgarian airspace, to provide aerial support and to assist the Land Forces in case of war. The Bulgarian Air...
- Bulgarian NavyBulgarian NavyThe Bulgarian Navy is the navy of Republic of Bulgaria and forms part of the Bulgarian Armed Forces. It has been largely overlooked in the reforms that Bulgaria had to go through in order to comply with NATO standards, mostly because of the great expense involved and the fact that naval assaults...
: 4 in service 1985-1989
: Cambodian Air Force
: Cameroon Air Force
Cameroon Air Force
The Cameroon Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Cameroon. The Cameroon Air Force, along with the Cameroon Army, the Cameroon Navy , the National Gendarmerie, and the Presidential Guard make up the Cameroonian Armed Forces.The Cameroon Air Force theoretically possesses a fairly...
operated 1.
- People's Liberation ArmyPeople's Liberation ArmyThe People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
- People's Liberation Army Air ForcePeople's Liberation Army Air ForceThe People's Liberation Army Air Force is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China...
- People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force
: One example, of the FAR (Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) is displayed at the Museo del Aire (Cuba)
Museo del Aire (Cuba)
The Museo del Aire was a national aviation museum located in the south-western suburbs of Havana, Cuba. Until August 2010, the Museum address was: Museo del Aire, Avenida 212, entre la avenida 29 y 31, La Coronela, La Lisa...
: Czechoslovakian Air Force
- East German Air Force
- VolksmarineVolksmarineVolksmarine was the official designation of the maritime forces of the German Democratic Republic . It was part of the National People's Army, established in 1956.-History:...
:
- Egyptian Air ForceEgyptian Air ForceThe Egyptian Air Force, or EAF , is the aviation branch of the Egyptian Armed Forces. The EAF is headed by an Air Marshal . Currently, the commander of the Egyptian Air Force is Air Marshal Reda Mahmoud Hafez Mohamed...
: 3 units were in service with the Finnish Air Force
Finnish Air Force
The Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
from 1962-1979.
: Hungarian Air Force
Hungarian Air Force
The Hungarian Air Force is the air force branch of the Hungarian Army.- 1918 to Pre–World War II :Following the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy in 1918, a small air arm was established operating surviving aircraft from Hungarian factories and training schools...
: Indian Air Force
Indian Air Force
The Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
: Indonesian Air Force
Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
: Iraqi Air Force
Iraqi Air Force
The Iraqi Air Force or IQAF is the military branch in Iraq responsible for the policing of international borders, surveillance of national assets and aerial operations...
: Mongolian People's Air Force
: North Korean Air Force
North Korean Air Force
The Korean People's Army Air Force, , is the name of the unified aviation forces of North Korea. The KPAF is the second-largest branch of the Korean People's Army with an estimated 110,000 personnel. It possesses between 1,600 and 1,700 aircraft of different types, mostly of Soviet and Chinese...
- Polish Air ForcePolish Air ForceThe Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
- Polish NavyPolish NavyThe Marynarka Wojenna Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej - MW RP Polish Navy, is the branch of Republic of Poland Armed Forces responsible for naval operations...
- Romanian Air ForceRomanian Air ForceThe Romanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Romanian Armed Forces. It has an air force headquarters, an operational command, four air bases and an air defense brigade...
- Romanian Navy
: Somali Air Corps
Somali Air Corps
The Somali Air Force is the air force of Somalia. The Somali Aeronautical Corps was the name of the Somali Air Force during the pre-independence period. After 1960, when Somalia gained independence, the name changed to the Somali Air Force...
South Yemen- Soviet Air ForceSoviet Air ForceThe Soviet Air Force, officially known in Russian as Военно-воздушные силы or Voenno-Vozdushnye Sily and often abbreviated VVS was the official designation of one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces...
- Soviet ArmySoviet ArmyThe Soviet Army is the name given to the main part of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union between 1946 and 1992. Previously, it had been known as the Red Army. Informally, Армия referred to all the MOD armed forces, except, in some cases, the Soviet Navy.This article covers the Soviet Ground...
Aviation - Soviet Naval AviationSoviet Naval AviationSoviet Naval Aviation was a part of the Soviet Navy.- Origins :...
: Syrian Air Force
Syrian Air Force
The Syrian Air Force is the Aviation branch of the Syrian Armed Forces. It was established in 1948.-History:The end of World War II led to a withdrawal of the United Kingdom and France from the Middle East, and this included a withdrawal from Syria...
: Sudanese Air Force
Sudanese Air Force
The Sudanese Air Force is the air force operated by the Republic of the Sudan. As such it is part of the Sudanese Armed Forces.-History:The Sudanese Air Force was founded immediately after Sudan gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1956. The British assisted in the Air Force's...
: Vietnam People's Air Force
Vietnam People's Air Force
The Vietnam People's Air Force is the air force of Vietnam. It is the successor of the former North Vietnamese Air Force and the absorbed Republic of Vietnam Air Force following the re-unification of Vietnam in 1975.-Beginning-1964 :The first Vietnamese aircraft were two trainers, a de Havilland...
: Yemen Air Force
Yemen Air Force
-North and South Yemen:The Yemen Air Force, known as al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Yamaniya, was established in 1926. During the mid-1950s, the Imam of Yemen established a private fleet that was run by the military. Later, the Russians delivered MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters, followed by MiG-21s to the...
: Yugoslav Air Force
SFR Yugoslav Air Force
The Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Yugoslav Air Force , was the air force of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia . Formed in 1945, it was preceded by the Yugoslav Royal Air Force which was disbanded in 1941, following the German occupation of Yugoslavia...
operated 25, withdrawn in 1970s.
Civil Operators
- Civil Aviation Administration of ChinaCivil Aviation Administration of ChinaThe Civil Aviation Administration of China , formerly the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China , is the aviation authority under the Ministry of Transport of the People's Republic of China. It oversees civil aviation and investigates aviation accidents and incidents...
- Slov-AirSlov-AirSlov-Air was an airline from Czechoslovakia , which provided services for agriculture, civil engineering and the industry.-History:...
- MIAT Mongolian Airlines
- TAROMTAROMS.C. Compania Națională de Transporturi Aeriene Române TAROM S.A., doing business as TAROM Romanian Air Transport, is the flag carrier and oldest currently operating airline of Romania. The brand name is an acronym for...
- 3 used for high voltage powerlines construction
- AeroflotAeroflotOJSC AeroflotRussian Airlines , commonly known as Aeroflot , is the flag carrier and largest airline of the Russian Federation, based on passengers carried per year...
Specifications (Mi-4A)