Kamov Ka-26
The Kamov Ka -26 (Russian Камов Ка -26, NATO code name " Hoodlum " ) is a civilian helicopter with coaxial rotor of the Soviet manufacturer Kamov, who flew for the first time in 1965 and was produced until 1985.
Technology
The development of the Ka -26 began in 1962. Required to Aeroflot was a slight, civil utility helicopter, mainly for agricultural tasks. Kamov solved the multipurpose requirement by a removable cargo cabin behind the two-seat cockpit: As required, the machine can be equipped for agricultural flight or for fire fighting with a freight, passenger cabin, open load platform or containers for chemicals or water. An ambulance version has a cabin for two chairs and three seats for medical staff.
Noteworthy is the use of simple radial engines of the type M - 14W -26, although by this time mainly gas turbines even in Soviet helicopters were utilized. These are fan cooled, arranged in pods either side of the transmission platform and drive the two three-bladed rotors proven in coaxial Kamov design to.
At the end of the transmission platform, there are two tail booms with large end discs. The chassis consists of two small, single -tyred wheels at the bow and two large single -tyred also legs on both sides under the engine nacelles. It is also possible to equip the machine with a ski landing gear.
The Ka -26 is considered the first helicopter - used rotor blades made of glass fiber composite - 105 before the German Bo. They are more flexible and lighter than the previously customary rotors made of aluminum or steel.
The first flight took place on 18 August 1965. The serial production began in 1969 and the first production model was launched on November 4, 1969 From the NATO received the machine the code name Hoodlum (German: thug, thug ). .
Overall, until the cessation of series production in 1985 were built about 850 to 900 Ka -26 in Kumertau Aviation Production Association, approximately 250 to 300 of them were exported. Ka -26 have been or are still in use in Russia, Bulgaria, the GDR, Japan, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and Hungary.
The Kamov Ka -226 a successor turbine powered arose.