OREANDA-NEWS. September 24, 2014. In September 2014, Rostvertol, a Russian Helicopters company (a subsidiary of Oboronprom, part of State Corporation Rostec), celebrates the 50th anniversary of the serial produced Mi-10's maiden flight.

The Mi-10 is a specialised military-transport helicopter, known as the 'Flying Crane'. Development work on it started in 1958, taking the Mi-6 transport helicopter as its base – using as many of its components and parts to ensure consistency.

Taking its control and transmission systems, and its power plant from the Mi-6, it is distinguished by its slim fuselage and original tall four-wheeled chassis that enable it to cope with large loads up to 3.5 metres high or to carry them on a platform under the fuselage. The cargo platform was later fixed to the chassis with hydraulic claws. The Mi-10 boasts a five-blade main rotor and a four-blade tail rotor.

The Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant (a Russian Helicopters company) completed design work on the Mi-10 in 1959, and in June 1960 the helicopter crane first took to the skies. Testing was concluded by 1964, after which it went into serial production at the Rostov-on-Don plant. The first serial-produced Mi-10 helicopter made its first flight in September 1964.

Several modifications of the Mi-10 were produced: the Mi-10GR ELINT helicopter, the Mi-10UPL universal field laboratory transporter, and the Mi-10P helicopter designed to provide airborne electronic counter-measures and targeting support during combat. The first two remained prototypes, but the third saw greater demand: Mi-10P helicopters served in the Soviet Army's regiments.

The Mi-10K was another, 'short-legged', version of the Mi-10. It went into serial production at the plant in March 1974. The helicopter is designed for special construction and transportation work. It had a low, four-legged, chassis and rear-facing pilot cabin under the fuselage nose boasting mechanical control and new radio equipment.

In the Soviet Union, 'Flying Cranes' were used for cargo transportation, in installing drilling rigs in oil and gas rich areas of East Siberia and the Far North, for complex installation operations on industrial construction and reconstruction projects. These helicopters significantly decreased both the time this work took and its cost.

The Mi-10 and its various different versions have set 10 world records, including a sensational record for cargo lifting: the helicopter can lift a load weighing 25,105 kg.

Rostvertol produced a total of 24 Mi-10 and 21 Mi-10K helicopters.