On November 22, 2009, Russia will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Soviet scientist and helicopter designer Mikhail Mil’s birth. In 1950, the first Soviet Mi-1 Hare three-seat production helicopter entered service, and was later followed by the Mi-2 Hoplite, the Mi-4 Hound, the Mi-6 Hook and the Mi-8 Hip.
© RIA NovostiThe Mil Mi-1 Hare helicopter. The Mi-1, the first Soviet production helicopter developed at the Mil Design Bureau, initially took to the air in 1948.
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The Mil Mi-1 Hare helicopter. The Mi-1, the first Soviet production helicopter developed at the Mil Design Bureau, initially took to the air in 1948.
© RIA NovostiMil Mi-6 Hook and Mi-8 Hip helicopters at the Tukhard base for gas-production teams in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory.
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Mil Mi-6 Hook and Mi-8 Hip helicopters at the Tukhard base for gas-production teams in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory.
© RIA NovostiSoviet helicopter designer Mikhail Mil with a model of a new helicopter.
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Soviet helicopter designer Mikhail Mil with a model of a new helicopter.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter delivering prefab houses to workers at the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) in East Siberia.
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A Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter delivering prefab houses to workers at the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) in East Siberia.
© RIA NovostiGeologists consider helicopters to be the best mode of transportation. This Mil Mi-4 Hound is waiting for geologists.
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Geologists consider helicopters to be the best mode of transportation. This Mil Mi-4 Hound is waiting for geologists.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter delivering consignments to Severny Naip gas deposit in the Kara Kum Desert in Turkmenistan, Central Asia.
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A Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter delivering consignments to Severny Naip gas deposit in the Kara Kum Desert in Turkmenistan, Central Asia.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter carrying a tractor to an oil-production team camp.
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A Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter carrying a tractor to an oil-production team camp.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-8-T Hip helicopter in flight.
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A Mil Mi-8-T Hip helicopter in flight.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-6 Hook transport/assault-landing helicopter with a payload.
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A Mil Mi-6 Hook transport/assault-landing helicopter with a payload.
© RIA Novosti . Терентьев A Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter delivering pipes to oil-production teams on the Yamal Peninsula in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
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© RIA Novosti . Терентьев
A Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter delivering pipes to oil-production teams on the Yamal Peninsula in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter lifting pylons for power line construction.
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A Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter lifting pylons for power line construction.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-4 Hound fire-patrol helicopter over a forest in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory.
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A Mil Mi-4 Hound fire-patrol helicopter over a forest in Russia’s Krasnoyarsk Territory.
© RIA NovostiA Soviet Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter at Dar El Beida Airport in Algeria.
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A Soviet Mil Mi-8 Hip helicopter at Dar El Beida Airport in Algeria.
© RIA Novosti . Е.Стопалов A police officer observing traffic in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, from a Mil Mi-1 Hare helicopter.
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© RIA Novosti . Е.Стопалов
A police officer observing traffic in Leningrad, now St. Petersburg, from a Mil Mi-1 Hare helicopter.
© RIA NovostiA Mil Mi-10 Harke helicopter with a Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter in the background.
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A Mil Mi-10 Harke helicopter with a Mil Mi-6 Hook helicopter in the background.
© RIA NovostiFrom right: Soviet aircraft designers Mikhail Mil (1909-1970) and Andrei Tupolev (1888-1972).
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From right: Soviet aircraft designers Mikhail Mil (1909-1970) and Andrei Tupolev (1888-1972).