Mi-24W

A plastic model of the Mi-24W helicopter built in 1:48 scale. The model was photographed at the 12th International Festival of Plastic Reduction Models Bytom 2015.

The Mi-24 is a heavy helicopter that combines the functions of an assault and transport machine. There are places for 8 soldiers in the cargo area. The helicopter can be equipped with small arms and anti-tank weapons. In the NATO code it was designated as HIND.

The crew consists of 3 people: a pilot, a weapons operator and an on-board mechanic. The pilot sits in the second cabin above the operator's station.

The helicopter is equipped with short wings that perform two important functions. In addition to the possibility of suspending the weapons, additional lifting force was obtained thanks to them. At 270 km/h (168 mph), this is 20 percent of the force generated by the rotor.

The permanent armament of the Mi-24W is a four-barrel 12.7 mm (½ in) machine gun suspended under the helicopter's bow and controlled from the armament operator's cabin. In addition, under the wings you can hang anti-tank guided missiles, machine guns and bombs, mines or unguided rockets. The helicopter can carry bombs weighing up to 500 kg (1102 lb). The maximum weight of the suspended equipment is 2000 kg (4409 lb).

The Mi-24 was produced in the years 1970-1989 at two plants in the Soviet Union. They were produced in over 3,000 copies.

The Mi-24W version was produced in the years 1976-1986. About 1,500 of these machines were made. After 1989, helicopters were assembled at the Rostov-on-Don plant only on special order. About 150 more had been produced by 2012.

Helicopters intended for sale outside the Warsaw Pact were given other designations: Mi-24D is Mi-25, and Mi-24W is Mi-35.

Some technical data (for the Mi-24W version):

• Length with tail beam: 21.35 m (70 ft),
• Hull length: 17.51 m (57.45 ft),
• Width: 1.70 m (5.58 ft),
• Height: 3.97 m (13 ft),
• Wingspan: 5.58 m (18.31 ft),
• Rotor diameter: 17.3 m (56.76 ft),
• Takeoff weight: 11,200-11,800 kg (24,690-26,015 lb),
• Empty weight: 8500 kg (18,739 lb),
• Powerplant: two turbo-shaft engines (gas turbines), 1618 kW each (2200 HP),
• Max speed: 320 km/h (199 mph),
• Cruising speed: 270 km/h (168 mph),
• Rate of climb: 12 m/s (2362 fpm),
• Hover ceiling (depending on the source of the information): 1300-3000 m (4265-9843 ft),
• Max service ceiling: 5000 m (16,404 ft),
• Range: 595 km (370 mi),
• Range with additional fuel tanks: 1125 km (670 mi).

Sources:

• http://www.samolotypolskie.pl/samoloty/1872/126/Mil-Mi-242
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi-24
• http://www.konflikty.pl/technika-wojskowa/w-powietrzu/smiglowiec-szturmowy-mi-24dw-latajacy-rydwan-z-afganistanu/

08 Jan 2017