Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Mil Mi-4

The Mil Mi-4 (originally known to US intelligence as the Type-36 and later by the NATO reporting name "Hound") was a Soviet transport helicopter that served in both military and civilian roles.

Design and development

The Mi-4 was designed in response to the American H-19 Chickasaw 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.

Operational history

The Mi-4 went out of service with the development of the Mi-8. It is not used by the Russian Air Force today, though it remains in service in some countries as a utility helicopter or a military transport. 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-4's helped the Indian Army's 57 Mountain Division clear the mighty Meghna river. The helilift of a battalion of Indian troops to the outskirts of Sylhet were the first heli-borne operation of the Indian army.

Variants

V-12

Prototype. Designation reused for the Mi-12.Mi-4 (NATO - Hound-A)

Basic production version.Mi-4A

Assault transport helicopter.Mi-4L Lyukes

Six-seat VIP transport version, sometimes converted into an air ambulance helicopter.Mi-4M (NATO - Hound-C)

Armed close-support helicopter, fitted with a gun turret.Mi-4P

Civil transport helicopter, with accommodation for between 8 and 11 passengers, plus eight strechers and a medical attendant for air ambulance duties. Mi-4PL (NATO - Hound-B)

Anti-submarine warfare helicopter.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.Harbin Z-5

Chinese military transport helicopter. Chinese production version.Xuanfeng'''

Chinese civil transport helicopter. Chinese production version.

Operators

Military operators

: 18 acquired by the Royal Afghan Air Force 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.

East German Air Force and Volksmarine: 3 units were in service with the Finnish Air Force from 1962-1979.
Soviet Air Force, Soviet Army Aviation and Soviet Naval Aviation: 25 acquired by the SFR Yugoslav Air Force during the middle 1960's, lather replaced by Mi-8 and withdrawn from service during the 1970's.