|
In late 1940s, Yakovlev was impressed by the Sikorsky S-51
helicopter. The OKB resembled the S-51 as the Yak-100. It was placed
into competition with the Mil Mi-1 but lost a fly-off to the Mi-1. In
1951, Yakovlev and Mil were called by Stalin to create two new
helicopters, one to carry a 1200 kg load and the other twice load as
much. Both prototypes would be ready in one year. Mil agreed to tackle
the smaller machine that became Mil-4, and Yakovlev took the larger that
led to the Yak-24 program. In order to build the first prototype
extremely quickly, Yakovlev mirrored Piasecki tandem rotor design. The
four prototypes were rapidly completed and flight test was began as
early as July 1952. It became the largest helicopter in the world when
built. Full scale production for Soviet armed forces began in 1955. The
later prototypes were publicly demonstrated at Tushino airport, and it
was received NATO designation Horse. The Yak-24 served in Soviet Air
Force until the far more powerful Mil-6 Hook entered production in 1959.
Later Yakovlev scaled up the Yak-24 to the huge Yak-60, but it was again
lost to Mil V-22.
|
