- Who
- Mil V-12
- What
- 105,000 kg (321,485 lb) dimension(s)
- Where
- Russian Federation (Tomilino)
- When
The largest helicopter ever built was the Soviet Mil V-12, a prototype that first flew on 10 July 1968. The V-12 (sometimes referred to as the mi-12) was a twin-rotor experimental heavy-lift helicopter with a maximum take-off weight of 105,000 kg (321,485 lb). By comparison, the Boeing CH-47F Chinook, another twin-rotor helicopter, has a maximum take off weight of 22,680 kg (50,000 lb).
The V-12 was powered by four Soloviev D-25VF turboshaft engines positioned in pairs on outboard nacelles, driving two massive 35-m (114 ft 9 in) diameter rotors. Each engine generated around 4,780 kW (6,410 hp) for a total of 19,120 kW (25,640 hp). The V-12 holds several FIA records for payload capacity.
The V-12 program was intended to meet a requirement from the Soviet armed forces for a helicopter capable of carrying heavy loads such as inter-continental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to remote sites where ground transport was not feasible. By the time the V-12 was completed, however, Soviet strategy had shifted and military requirements could now be met by more conventional helicopter designs such as the Mil mi-26.
