Mil Mi-1

The Mil Mi‑1, also known by its NATO reporting name ‘Hare’, was the Soviet Union’s first mass‑produced helicopter and marked a milestone for the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant. Designed by Mikhail Mil in the late 1940s, the prototype first flew on 1 July 1948 and entered serial production in 1950. Powered by a single Ivchenko AI‑26R radial engine delivering 475 hp, the Mi‑1 featured a three‑bladed main rotor and a conventional tail‑rotor layout, accommodating a pilot and up to three passengers or a small cargo load. Its compact dimensions, simple mechanical systems and robust construction made it suitable for a variety of roles, including liaison, training, medical evacuation and light transport. Over 2,800 units were built in the USSR and licensed abroad in Poland (SM‑1) and Czechoslovakia (Mi‑1L), demonstrating its adaptability to different climates and operational demands. The Mi‑1’s success paved the way for later Mil designs such as the Mi‑2 and Mi‑8, establishing the plant’s reputation for reliable rotary‑wing aircraft and influencing global helicopter development throughout the Cold War era. It served with Soviet Air Force units until the early 1970s, and several examples are preserved in museums worldwide as symbols of early rotary‑wing innovation.

Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant

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Design & Classification