Kamov Ka-26
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Founded | January 1, 1929 |
| Headquarters | Russia |
| Products | Helicopters, including Kamov Ka-26 |
| Website | web |
Template:More footnotes needed
The Kamov Ka-26 (NATO reporting name Hoodlum) is a Soviet-era light utility helicopter featuring coaxial rotor technology.
Development
Production of the Ka-26 began in 1969, with a total of 816 units manufactured. The model was later adapted into the single turboshaft engine variant known as the Ka-126, and a twin-turboshaft version designated the Ka-226. All these variants, including the Ka-26/126/128/226, share the NATO codename "Hoodlum".
Design
The Ka-26's airframe comprises a fixed, bubble-shaped cockpit accommodating both pilot and co-pilot, coupled with a detachable modular box section. This interchangeable compartment can be configured for various missions such as medevac, passenger transport, or crop spraying. The helicopter maintains flight capability whether or not the box is attached, enhancing operational versatility.
Propulsion is provided by two 325 hp (239 kW) Vedeneyev M-14V-26 radial engines installed in outward-mounted nacelles.
Operational history
Template:More citations needed section The Ka-26 has proven highly effective in civilian agricultural roles, particularly for crop dusting tasks. Its coaxial rotor arrangement contributes to a compact and maneuverable profile while generating a gentle airflow beneath the aircraft. This airflow pattern facilitates an even and delicate application of chemicals to crops. In Hungary, for instance, the Ka-26 is frequently employed to treat vineyards where traditional helicopters’ strong downwash could damage or uproot vines.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] Operators in Hungary report that the coaxial rotors produce an air current that enables pesticides to remain suspended longer, allowing more residue to settle beneath leaves rather than on top. This method improves pesticide efficacy since many pests inhabit the undersides of foliage. Moreover, the symmetrical vortex system created by coaxial rotors ensures a more uniform chemical spread without side currents caused by tail rotors, reducing contamination risks to adjacent non-crop areas.
Within certain Warsaw Pact military forces, the Ka-26 was assigned primarily to light paratroop or airborne roles rather than agricultural applications.Template:Fix/category[citation needed] However, its relatively slow cruise speed of 150 km/h compared to the Mi-2’s 220 km/h limits its versatility in general military operations. Despite this, its shorter fuselage length (7.75 m versus 11.9 m for the Mil Mi-2) and smaller rotor diameter (13 m compared to 14.6 m) offer advantages for urban deployment. Additionally, it provides a longer operational range than the Mil Mi-2.
On 30 June 2020, Moldovan authorities shut down an unauthorized factory producing counterfeit Ka-26 helicopters. The facility contained ten airframes at various assembly stages intended for distribution within former Soviet states.[1][2]
Variants
- Ka-26 Hoodlum-A
- A light utility helicopter designed for one or two crew members, equipped with dual 325-hp (239-kW) VMK (Vedeneyev) M-14V-26 radial engines. Total production reached 850 units.
- Ka-26SS
- A test model employing NOTAR technology for the Ka-118, featuring tail jet thrusters.
- Ka-126 Hoodlum-B
- This light utility helicopter, accommodating one or two crew, is powered by a single 720-shp (537-kW) OMKB "Mars" (Glushenkov) TVD-100 turboshaft engine. Its maiden flight occurred in 1986, with manufacturing and development carried out by Industria Aeronautică Română in Romania. Two prototypes and fifteen production helicopters were completed.
- V-60
- A prototype light armed escort helicopter derived from the Ka-126 platform.
- Ka-128
- A single prototype model powered by a 722-shp (538-kW) Turbomeca Arriel 1D1 turboshaft engine.
- Kamov Ka-226
- A utility helicopter accommodating six to seven passengers, driven by two 450-shp (335-kW) Rolls-Royce (Allison) 250-C20R/2 turboshaft engines.
Operators
-_by-RaBoe_01.jpg){kind=link}
- West Copter
Former operators
Specifications (Ka-26)
See also
References
- John W. R. Taylor Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1982–83. London: Jane's Yearbooks, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0748-2.
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20020525031818/http://kamov.ru/
- https://web.archive.org/web/19991010165536/http://www.aviation.ru/Ka/#26
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160415012400/http://www.kamov.net/kamov-civilian/kamov-ka-126/
- Photograph of the Kamov Ka-26 – Airliners.net
- Symmetrical vortices
Template:Kamov aircraft Lua error in Module:Authority_control at line 159: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- Kamov aircraft
- 1960s Soviet civil utility aircraft
- 1960s Soviet military utility aircraft
- 1960s Soviet helicopters
- 1960s Soviet agricultural aircraft
- Coaxial rotor helicopters
- Aircraft first flown in 1965
- Twin-engined piston helicopters
- Twin-tail aircraft
- Aircraft with fixed quad landing gear