Heli-Expo is a great place for enthusiasts to see the wide variety of helicopter types that are flown in specifically for the show. At Heli-Expo 2012, however, there was something special about the annual fly-in that even regular attendees didnt expect. 

As the sound of something distinctly different filled the air, a Mil Mi-24D Hind helicopter appeared over the trees on approach to the Dallas Convention Center in northeastern Texas. For many of the shows attendees, this was their first time seeing a Hind in person.

This particular Hind was one of the two that are operated by the Cold War Air Museum (CWAM), which is based at the Lancaster Regional Airport in Lancaster, Texas, about 20 miles south of Dallas. Founded in 2004, CWAM has a large collection of Russian-built aircraft, encompassing over 20 airplanes and helicopters in three hangars. Among its helicopters are the museums first acquisitions: three Mi-2 Hoplite twin-turbine transports that served with the Bulgarian military. Two of these are fully operational and have United States Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness certificates (ACs).

The Mi-24D Hinds, however, are the flagships of the museum. With a maximum gross weight over 26,000 pounds and a top speed over 174 knots, these large attack helicopters were made famous by movies such as Red Dawn and Rambo III. 

As a combination gunship and troop transport, the Mi-24 Hind has no direct NATO counterpart. For example, Bell UH-1 Hueys were used in the Vietnam War both as gunships and troop transports, but they were not able to do both at the same time (converting the Huey into a gunship usually meant stripping the aircraft down to accommodate extra ammunition and armaments, decreasing its passenger-carrying capability). The Mi-24, on the other hand, was designed specifically to do both simultaneously, and the Soviet military used that capability to lethal effect in Afghanistan in the 1980s.

A large part of the Mi-24s deadliness in combat came from its speed. Considerable attention was given by Mils designers to making the Mi-24 fast, including streamlining the airframe and creating retractable landing gear to reduce drag. 

The mid-mounted stub wings, which generate a considerable amount of lift during high-speed flight, were also designed to have three weapons hard-points each. In combat, these hard-points could handle a mix of armaments depending on the mission, whether anti-tank, aerial combat or close air support.

The body of the Hind, meanwhile, is heavily armored and can resist hits from .50-caliber (12.7-millimeter) rounds from all angles; its rotor blades can also resist weapons fire. The cockpit is protected with ballistic-resistant windscreens and titanium armor, and both the cockpit and crew compartment are protected against NBC (nuclear, biological, chemical) conditions.

Members of the museum acquired the three Hinds from Bulgaria, but only two, Bord 118 and Bord 120, have been restored to flying condition. (Each aircrafts Bord number is the large number on the side of the aircraft the Bulgarian military used for identification.) The third Hind was damaged after colliding with a bridge while being transported to Lancaster from Houston, Texas. It now serves as a static display in front of the Lancaster airport. 

Currently, there are only three FAA-certified Hinds flying in the U.S., and two of them are at CWAM. Bord 118 received its AC in 2010 and Bord 120 received its AC in 2011. Over the past two years, Bord 118 has flown to many air shows all over Texas and as far away as Nebraska and Las Vegas, Nev.

With two Hinds now available, CWAM is looking to expand its air-show presence across the U.S. The two helicopters are available to air shows for static displays, performances or both. The Hinds can also provide VIP and media rides before each show. As for the museum, CWAM provides daily tours at its Lancaster facility, and most weekends see its aircraft being flown or taxied around the airport. For more information about this nonprofit museum, visit its website at www.cwam.org.