OREANDA-NEWS. September 05, 2007. On the 3-rd of September the most heaviest-lifting Mi-26TC helicopter flew out from Rostov-on-Don (Russia) for Harbin (China), reported the press-centre of Rostvertol plc.

It took off at the airdrome of Rostvertol plc, where this rotorcraft was created. During the ferry flight, which will last 6 days, the Mi-26TC shall land in Samara, Novosibirsk, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, and Chita.

The multipurpose helicopter is flying to Harbin in the frames of the signed last year contract with Lectern Aviation Company on hand-over of the Mi-26TC (where T –transport, C – certified)  for a 3-years lease term. The heaviest-lifting in the world helicopter, capable to transport cargo weighing up to 20 tons inside the cargo cabin or on the external sling, will be used for the first time in China for firefighting and installation of electric power lines. At present this project is been actively realized.

As soon as the Mi-26TC helicopter arrives to China it will perform demonstration flights for showing its capabilities. These flights will be viewed by high-ranking officials from the Ministry of Forestry of China, Army Aviation, representatives of such large companies as China Flying Dragon Special Aviation (operator of the helicopter), China national Electricity Grid Construction Ltd (deal with installation of electric power lines), China Eastern Airline Special Aviation (deal with freight).

Works on preparing this contract began more than a year ago. As a result, last year in April during a joint visit of Rostvertol plc and Mil MHP plc specialists to the Chinese People’s Republic an agreement was signed between Rostvertol plc and Lectern Aviation Company (Hong Kong) on establishing a joint Russian – Hong Kong enterprise – “Rostvertol Helicopters China Limited”. After drawing up appropriate documents on the 1-st of August a certificate of the Mi-26TC helicopter’s conformity with Chinese regulations was issued. The Chinese technical specialists have all ready passed training on operation and maintenance of the Mi-26TC helicopter at Rostvertol plc. And in China they will perfect their skills under the guidance of experienced Russian specialists.

The Mi-26TC is a unique helicopter. Due to usage of a wide spectrum of additional removable equipment the Mi-26TC can be transformed in a short time from the basic version into one of the following versions: aerial-delivery, medical, fire-fighter, refueller.

Due to their multifunctionality and reliability these helicopters found wide application in different countries and on different continents. Nearly all over the world they extinguished fires, transported cargoes, participated the UN peacemaking missions. Due to growth of the number of international conflicts and natural disasters the multipurpose giants constantly change their basing sites and carry out missions on rescuing human lives and liquidation of extraordinary situations. Not long ago the helicopters actively worked in Sierra-Leone, Mexico, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos. As the situation in the world changed the sites of their application changed for Greece, Canada, Afghanistan, Congo, Liberia, Uganda, Sudan where the Mi-26T performs operations on transporting heavy bulky cargoes, mounting electric power lines, antenna-mast constructions, on reconstruction and construction of industrial objects.

Many years’ experience showed that these helicopters are effectively used as well for firefighting. Since 1999 and till now the aviation group of the Russian Ministry for Extraordinary Situations, which includes Mi-26T helicopters, participates in extinguishing fires in Greece. They operate in mountainous regions, in conditions of dense smoke. In such difficult conditions the helicopter proved its reliability and efficiency operating, moreover, far off from the maintenance base.

Russian helicopters extinguish fires in Greece, France, Italy, etc. Owing to the professionalism of the Mi-26T crews the material damage, which the fire could cause to these countries, considerably reduces.

The helicopter’s unique capabilities allow using it in mobile complex fire groups. Application of a wide spectrum of additional removable equipment  allows to deliver to difficult to access regions bulky machinery and specially trained personnel, various types of fuel and lubricants, provide on board first medical aid, evacuate casualties.

Examples of Mi-26T helicopter’s effective usage may serve - transportation and installation of supports and other constructions of the cable-way in the neighborhoods of Innsbruck (Austria) in July-August 2006, as well as its participation in the humanitarian missions on delivery of food and living essentials to the suffered from earthquakes high mountainous regions of Pakistan.

China, who is actively increasing its production, and uses as well foreign technologies and goods for satisfying national interests, got interested in the unique capabilities of the Mi-26TC helicopter. Regarding the results of the demonstration flights and performance of works the Chinese party will consider the possibility of acquiring a batch of Mi-26TC helicopters.