Mil Mi-2

For other uses, see Mi2 (disambiguation).

Mi-2
Polish Air Force Mi-2 at Krzesiny Air Base
Role	Helicopter
Manufacturer	PZL-Świdnik, Poland
First flight	September 1961
Introduction	1965
Primary users	Soviet Air Force Polish Military Aeroflot
Produced	1965-1998
Number built	5,497
Developed from	Mil Mi-1
Variants	PZL Kania

The Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name Hoplite) is a small, lightly armored turbine-powered transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon.

Design and development

The Mi-2 was produced exclusively in Poland, in the WSK "PZL-Świdnik" factory in Świdnik.

The first production helicopter in the Soviet Union was the Mil Mi-1, modelled along the lines of the S-51 and Bristol Sycamore and flown by Mikhail Mil's bureau in September 1948. During the 1950s it became evident, and confirmed by American and French development, that helicopters could be greatly improved with turbine engines. S. P. Isotov developed the GTD-350 engine and Mil used two of these in the far superior Mi-2.

The twin shaft-turbine engines used in the Mi-2 develop 40% more power than the Mi-1's piston engines, for barely half the engine weight, with the result that the payload was more than doubled. The Mi-2 fuselage was extensively altered from its predecessor, with the engines mounted overhead. However, the external dimensions remained similar.

After initial development at the Mil bureau (Soviet designation V-2) the project was transferred to Poland in 1964, after the first Świdnik-built example had flown (making this the only Soviet-designed helicopter to be built solely outside the Soviet Union). PZL-Świdnik produced a total of 5,497 units, about a third for military users. The factory also developed fiberglass rotor blades, and developed the wide-body Mi-2M seating 10 passengers instead of eight. Most typical kits include four stretchers for air ambulance usage, or aerospraying or cropdusting applications.

In Poland, there were also developed several specialized military variants for support or reconnaissance roles, with 23 mm autocannon, machine guns and/or two 57 mm rocket pods, four 9K11 Malyutka anti-tank missiles or Strela-2 AA missiles.

Operational history

The Mi-2 was first introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1965. The Mi-2 is used by mainly former Soviet and Eastern Bloc countries, although it was also purchased by Mexico and Myanmar armed forces.

Most of the armed Mi-2 variants were used by Poland. Some were also used by the former East Germany (with machine gun and unguided rocket armament only).

North Korea still maintains a large active fleet of Mi-2s.

Variants

Mi-2 in Borki, Tver region, Russia

Mi-2Ch exhibited in Polish Aviation Museum

Mi-2 Plus - now retired air ambulance LPR in Poland

Mi-2P exhibited in Polish Army Museum in Warsaw. Helicopter in markings of the 42 eskadra lotnicza MSWiA based at Warszawa-Bemowo airfield.

V-2

First prototype.

V-2V

Armament prototype.

Mi-2 Platan

Aerial minelayer version.

Mi-2A

Mi-2B

Upgraded export version for the Middle East, fitted with improved systems and navigational aids.

Mi-2Ch Chekla

Chemical reconnaissance / smokescreen layer version.

Mi-2D Przetacznik

Aerial command post equipped with R-111 radio.

Mi-2FM

Survey version.

Mi-2P

Passenger / cargo version, with accommodation for 6 passengers.

Mi-2R

Agricultural version.

Mi-2RL

Land rescue/ambulance version.

Mi-2RM

Sea rescue version equipped with electric winch for two people and dropped rafts.

Mi-2Ro

Reconnaissance version equipped with cameras.

UMi-2Ro

Reconnaissance trainer version.

Mi-2RS Padalec ('Slowworm')

Chemical and biohazard reconnaissance version.

Mi-2S

Air ambulance version, equipped to carry four litters, plus an attendant.

Mi-2Sz

Dual-control training version.

Mi-2T

Cargo/utility version.

Mi-2U

Dual-control training version.

Mi-2US

Armed version fitted with a fixed 23mm NS-23 cannon, 4 x 7,62mm PKT machine gun pods and optional cabin PK machine gun.

Mi-2URN Żmija ('Viper')

Armed reconnaissance variant armed with a fixed 23mm NS-23 gun and two 16x57mm S-5 unguided rocket pods Mars-2. Optional 7,62mm PK machine gun window-mounted.

Mi-2URP Salamandra ('Salamander')

Gunship and anti-tank variant, armed with 23mm NS-23 gun, optional window-mounted 7,62mm PK machine gun, and 4x AT-3 Sagger (9M14M Malutka) wire-guided missiles on external weapons racks and 4x additional missiles in the cargo compartment.

Mi-2URP-G Gniewosz ('Smooth snake')

Mi-2URP with additional 4x AA missiles Strzała-2 (Strela 2) in two Gad rocket launchers.

Mi-2 Plus

Upgraded Mi-2 with uprated GTD-350W2 engines, all-composite rotor blades, new avionics and other modifications.

Mi-3

Planned Mi-2 derivative that lacked suitable engines for the program to continue.

Mi-2MSB2

Modernized by the Ukrainian Air Force, slated to enter the serial modernization/production in late 2011.

Operators

Mi-2 operators

Ex-East German Air Force Mi-2 in Hubschrauber Museum, Bückeburg

Ex-Luftwaffe Mi-2 in Peenemünde museum, summer 2001

Peruvian Army Mi-2 on display at Las Palmas Airbase, 2006

Algeria

• Algerian Air Force

Armenia

• Armenian Air Force

Azerbaijan

• Azerbaijani Air Force

Belarus

• Belarusian Air Force

Bulgaria

• Bulgarian Air Force

Cuba

• Cuban Air Force

Czech Republic

• Czech Air Force

Djibouti

• Djibouti Air Force

Estonia

• Estonian Air Force

East Germany

• East German Air Force

Germany

• German State Police

Hungary

• Hungarian Air Force
• Hungarian Police

Indonesia

• Indonesian Navy
• Indonesian Police

India

• Indian Navy

Latvia

• Latvian Air Force

Libya

• Libyan Air Force

Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force

Mexico

• Mexican Navy

Mongolia

• Mongolian Air Force

Burma

• Myanmar Air Force

Nicaragua

• Nicaraguan Air Force

North Korea

• North Korean Air Force

Poland

• Polish Air Force
• Polish Army
• Polish Border Guard
• Polish Navy

Peru

• Peruvian Army

Russia

• Russian Army

Slovakia

• Slovak Air Force

Syria

• Syrian Air Force

Ukraine

• Ukrainian Air Force

United States

• United States Army
• University of Iowa

Soviet Union

• Aeroflot
• Soviet Air Force
• Soviet Army Aviation

Specifications (Mi-2T)

Cockpit of Mi-2 exhibited in Aviation Museum, Košice, Slovakia

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Capacity: 8 passengers or 700 kg (1,543 lb) internal, 800 kg (1,764 lb) external cargo
• Length: 11.40 m (37 ft 4¾ in)
• Rotor diameter: 14.50 m (47 ft 6⅞ in)
• Height: 3.75 m (12 ft 3½ in)
• Disc area: 165.13 m² (1,777.44 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,372 kg (5,218 lb)
• Loaded weight: 3,550 kg (7,826 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 3,700 kg (8,157 lb)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 200 km/h (108 knots, 124 mph)
• Range: 440 km (237 nmi, 273 mi)(max internatal fuel, no reserves)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,125 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.5 m/s (885 ft/min)
• Disc loading: 22.41 kg/m² (4.59 lb/ft²)

See also

• PZL Kania
• Bell 204/205
• Kazan Ansat
• PZL W-3 Sokół

References

• Mondey, David, Encyclopedia of The World's Commercial and Private Aircraft. Crescent Books, New York NY, 1981. p. 245, "WSK-Swidnik Mi-2 Hoplite"
• Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0 7106-0748-2.
• Mi-2 DataBase
• Mi-2 Photo Gallery

External links

• List of all Mi-2 helicopters used by Polish Air Force