Top largest transport helicopters for 2023
There are several categories of aircraft used by people for different purposes - civil flights, combat operations and transportation of various cargoes. Just the last category has become the most interesting for us and now you can learn more about the best transport helicopters today.
MI-26
By 1977, the Mil Design Bureau had made its maiden flight of what is now one of the most recognizable and undoubtedly the largest helicopters designed for cargo transportation.
For the entire time about 318 units were produced. To this day, the Mi-26 transport helicopter is the largest in its category. Naturally, it is primarily used for military missions, for example, for the transportation of passengers and soldiers.
The only thing that did not manage to think thoroughly engineers, is its refueling, so a full tank for the Mi-26 is enough only to overcome 800 kilometers.
If you use the Mi 26 transport helicopter to transport equipment, it lifts on board up to 20 tons. As for soldiers, it can be 85 servicemen on one board.
- Length: 40 m
- Weight: 28.2 tons
- Take-off weight: 56 tons
- Payload: 20 tons
- Range: 800 km.
- Speed: 295 km/h
Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion
Considering the best transport helicopters of the world, it is impossible not to remember about the American model of heavy military apparatus. For all time, 522 units of them were built.
In the classic configuration, the helicopter did not receive armament, but additionally it can be equipped with large-caliber machine guns.
The powerplant for the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion usually consists of 3 motors, each producing 4380 hp. On suspension, the unit included in the best transport helicopters can lift up to 16 tons, moving to a distance of 92 kilometers.
- Length: 30.2 m
- Weight: 15 t.
- Take-off weight: 33.3 tons
- Payload: 16 tons
- Range: 1000 km.
- Speed: 328 km/h
Boeing CH-47 «Chinook»
American of the heavy-lift category, which goes by the nickname "Chinook". It made its first flight in 1961, and since then Boeing has produced about 1200 units for the US Army and other countries.
It is impossible to confuse it with someone else, unique appearance and a special design that will be remembered for a long time. This aircraft has two main propellers at once.
In addition install 3 machine guns, two on the doors and one on the ramp. All of them have a caliber of 7.62 millimeters.
- Length: 30.14 m
- Weight: 12.2 tons
- Takeoff weight: 24.5 tons
- Range: 1000 km.
- Speed: 285 km/h
SA 321 Super-Frelon
The SA 321 Super Frelon is a large heavy helicopter originally developed by the French company Sud Aviation (later Aérospatiale) in the early 1960s. It was designed as a multi-role helicopter with a pronounced tri-engine configuration, making it one of the most powerful helicopters of its time.
The helicopter was used for a variety of purposes including troop transportation, anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue operations. Various variants with modifications were developed for specific purposes.
As one of the largest helicopters ever built in Europe, it had a significant payload capacity and was recognized for its spacious cabin and ability to carry heavy loads.
Although the Super Frelon was primarily used by the French military, it was also used by a number of other countries including Israel, South Africa, China and others. Each country used the Super Frelon for different military and civilian purposes.
- Length: 23 m
- Weight: 6.8 tons
- Take-off weight: 13 tons
- Payload: 6.2 tons
- Passenger capacity: up to 27 persons
- Range: 1020 km.
- Speed: 249 km/h
