The Mil Mi-24 is an attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated from 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and over thirty other nations.
The core of the Mil Mi-24 was derived from the Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name "Hip"), two top-mounted turbo shaft engines driving a mid-mounted 17.3 m five-blade main rotor and a three-blade tail rotor. The engine configuration gave the Mil Mi-24 its distinctive double air intake. Original versions have an angular greenhouse-style cockpit; Model D and later have a characteristic tandem cockpit with a "double bubble" canopy. Other airframe components came from the Mi-14 "Haze". Two mid-mounted stub wings provide weapon hardpoints, each offering three stations, in addition to providing lift. The load-out mix is mission dependent; Mi-24s can be tasked with close air support, anti-tank operations, or aerial combat. The body is heavily armored and the titanium rotor blades can resist impacts from .50 caliber (12.7 mm) rounds. The cockpit is overpressurized to protect the crew in NBC conditions.
Considerable attention was given to making the Mil Mi-24 fast. The airframe was streamlined, and fitted with retractable tricycle undercarriage landing gear to reduce drag. The wings provide considerable lift at high speed, up to a quarter of total lift. The main rotor was tilted 2.5° to the right from the fuselage to counteract dis symmetry of lift at high speed and provide a more stable firing platform. The landing gear was also tilted to the left so the rotor would still be level when the aircraft was on the ground, making the rest of the airframe tilt to the left. The tail was also asymmetrical to give a side force at speed, thus unloading the tail rotor.
Mil Mi-24 Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2-3 (pilot,weapons system officer and technician (optional)),
- Capacity: 8 troops or 4 stretchers
- Length: 17.5 m (57 ft 4 in)
- Rotor diameter: 17.3 m (56 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 6.5 m (21 ft 3 in)
- Height: 6.5 m (21 ft 3 in)
- Disc area: 235 m² (2,530 ft²)
- Empty weight: 8,500 kg (18,740 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 12,000 kg (26,500 lb)
- Powerplant: 2× Isotov TV3-117 turbines, 1,600 kW (2,200 hp) each
Mil Mi-24 Performance
- Maximum speed: 335 km/h (208 mph)
- Range: 450 km (280 miles)
- Service ceiling: 4,500 m (14,750 ft)
- Mil Mi-24 Armanent
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- flexible 12.7 mm Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B Gatling gun on most variants. Maximum of 1,470 rounds of ammunition.
- fixed twin-barrel GSh-30K on the Mi-24P. 750 rounds of ammunition.
- flexible twin-barrel GSh-23L on the Mi-24VP and Mi-24VM. 450 rounds of ammunition.
- PKT door mounted machine guns
- External stores
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- Total payload is 1,500 kg of external stores.
- Inner hardpoints can carry at least 500 kg
- Outer hardpoints can carry up to 250 kg
- Wing-tip pylons can only carry the 9M17 Phalanga (in the Mi-24A-D) or the 9K114 Shturm complex (in the Mi-24V-F).
- Bomb-load
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- Bombs within weight range (presumably ZAB, FAB, RBK, ODAB etc.), Up to 500 kg.
- MBD multiple ejector racks (presumably MBD-4 with 4xFAB-100)
- KGMU2V submunition/mine dispenser pods
- First-generation armament (standard production Mi-24D)
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- GUV-8700 gunpod (with a 12.7 mm Yak-B + 2x7.62 mm GShG-7.62 mm combination or one 30 mm AGS-17)
- UB-32 S-5 rocket launchers
- S-24 240 mm rocket
- 9M17 Phalanga (a pair on each wingtip pylon)
- Second-generation armament (Mi-24V, Mi-24P and most upgraded Mi-24D)
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- UPK-23-250 gunpod carrying the GSh-23L
- B-8V20 a lightweight long tubed helicopter version of the S-8 rocket launcher
- 9K114 Shturm in pairs on the outer and wingtip pylons
