Russian Helicopters, part of state defence holding Oboronprom and a leading global designer and manufacturer of helicopters, has put unique archive photographs on show at an exhibition being held in Terminal F of Moscows Sheremetyevo International Airport to celebrate 90 years of civil aviation in Russia.
Russia marked the 90th anniversary of civil aviation in the country on 9 February 2013. The exhibition, entitled Russian Civil Aviation 90 Years in the Skies and on the Ground, honors this anniversary for the countrys aeronautics, and the pictures capture the civil helicopters and aircraft that have created the history of passenger and goods transportation in Russia. The display is a unique photo documentary reflecting aerospace from the 1930s to the present day, from the first developments to the latest machines.
Helicopter manufacturing has written its own chapter in the history of Russian civil aviation. The list of great aerospace constructors would not be complete without Mikhail Mil and Nikolai Kamov, the brilliant helicopter-builders who laid the foundations for the sector that grew and strengthened through the 1950s and 1960s. The names Mil and Kamov are known around the world, and have become a genuine Russian brand.
The exhibition at Sheremetyevo includes photographs from the archives of the renowned Mil and Kamov bureaux. The pictures on display are not staged shots, but rather a daily chronicle reflecting the real lives of those who created and operated the helicopters.
The pictures show Nikolai Kamov discussing with colleagues the workload of the Ka-18, which in 1958 received a gold medal at the Worlds Fair in Brussels. Then there is the super-heavy and experienced Mi-12, which set a world record that still stands today by lifting 40 tons of cargo to a height of 2,000 meters. Another record-holder is the Ka-26, which has set five world marks. In other pictures there is miniature V-7 the only rotorcraft in the world with turbojet engines at the ends of the blades. And of course there is a portrait of the countrys first transport helicopter the Mi-4 at work, landing on the roof of a building in Moscow. Passenger, medical and agricultural versions of the Mi-4 were produced in addition to the transport model, with 3,852 manufactured in total.
Helicopters are indispensable in civil aviation due to their agility, their ability to land on rough ground, and their economical fuel consumption. For many civilian operations, helicopters ability to take off and land vertically represents a major advantage over aircraft. Russia is designed for helicopters, Mikhail Mil said. Helicopters fly a wide range of transportation missions, helping oil workers and other professionals in their daily work in remote places where the ground is inaccessible by air. Helicopters help to save people, to fight fires and deal with natural disasters.
Russia has a proud tradition and a long history of helicopter manufacturing. The countrys designers created a design for civil aircraft, many of which are still unique, unmatched anywhere in the world. Russian Helicopters is certain that the unique pictures on show at the exhibition at Sheremetyevo will help strengthen the image of the Russian helicopter industry to the widest possible audience.
