Crazy Process of Starting & Flying Weirdest Soviet Helicopter Ever Built

[@kirlap]

I was fortunate enough to fly the Ka-26 several times in the 1990s. It was absolutely breathtaking. I flew the MD500, which is also very agile, but the Ka-26 was in a class of its own

[@KB10GL]

Why is the KA26 "weird? It's a well designed, well engineered & well built machine that is without many of the vices of more commonly seen 'conventional' tail rotor designs. Former Soviet Bloc countries have used this counter rotating rotor systems in many designs for many decades with great success, so tell me again, why is it "weird"?

[@kiowa1508]

@@KB10GL the US built CH-46 successfully uses a counter rotating rotor system. The Kaman HH-43 Husky before it. However, any aircraft that requires a cutoff soda bottle to be stuck on to the exhaust and is hand-cranked to start….is weird. This particular example is in atrocious condition. The engine cowling looks like something off of a scrapped Yugo. I can only imagine what type of deterioration exists within the transmissions and flight control system. “Well built and engineered” would apply to Bell, Sikorsky, Westland, Leonardo, Aerospatiale. No one is clamoring for Russian engineering. When the cold war ended and Russian markets opened up…they began junking old Soviet planes and bought Boeing and Airbus. I will concede on one point…the Russians do build very capable military jets.

[@borisafanasiev2365]

​@@kiowa1508Any of your supa-dupa helicopters can be maintained and refueled in a field by a couple of peasants, can they be fixed with primitive tools from diy shop? Think again, apologize and be respectful.

[@kiowa1508]

@@borisafanasiev2365 I’m not apologizing for my opinion 🤡. Anyone who would fly in what you just described has a screw loose…and I’m not speaking of the helicopter.

[@KB10GL]

@@kiowa1508 These helicopters use radial engines, & ALL radial engines should be pulled through by hand for several revolutions to empty the lower cylinders of any oil accumulation if the engine has not been started & run within a reasonably short time. Just how short depends on how much wear is in the cylinders.. So "hand cranking" these engines is the normal start procedure for ALL radial engines. These choppers suffer from overloading, neglect & abuse, but the suckers keep on flying doing what they do best. Can't criticize that.

[@alsanamir497]

@@kiowa1508something to build without trillions in national debt and fentanyl revolution?:)

[@californiadreaming9216]

DEEP respect for Russian aircraft. Couple more facts regarding MI-26 not shared within. Not only useful but extremely versatile and safe aircraft. In the event of failure of one of it's 2 engines, MI-26 can sustain flight on one engine at full payload. It is also the ONLY helicopter in the world which - hypothetically - can fly nonstop trans-Atlantic...Cork Ireland to St John's NFLD...if payload is exchanged for fuel. Fact.

[@GTGibbs]

A total workhorse. Much like the K-Max. A flying hook, but you can only approach from the front due to rotor angles. Stout.

[@Alexey381]

Российская🇷🇺техника самая лучшая в мире❗️👍

[@Tubesmaney]

That thing is awesome! And it sounds fantastic! I’m not familiar with helicopters much, but I’m betting ones with reciprocating engines are pretty rare!

[@cliffhardie3341]

A kamov ka26 a beautifully constructed workhorse and a very reliable piece of soviet engineering

[@Lurch-Bot]

The words 'reliable' and 'Soviet engineering' don't belong in the same sentence. This aircraft is in what I would consider 'relic' condition and I wouldn't go anywhere near it. There are very obvious signs of corrosion all over the helicopter and it is just a matter of time before a catastrophic failure occurs.

[@kiowa1508]

@@cliffhardie3341 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cliffhardie3341]

@Lurch-Bot I'm very sorry but I beg to differ ,these engines are still in use by other types of aircraft, and when maintained on a regular basis, they are very reliable and as for corrosion show me an aircraft that has been in service doing this type of work since the 60's showing no sign of corrosion

[@KB10GL]

The Soviets knew how to build machines that would make their way through waist deep water on 3 feet of mud slurry while towing & carrying loads that would break the backs of lesser machines. If you really really need to haul big & heavy crap through the worst mud, snow & water combination imaginable, the Soviets had it covered. They also made some pretty rugged helicopters. So damn agricultural that blacksmiths could fix them [sort of] Basic & crude some of them may be, but they worked like a bullock team, were neglected & abused like a mongrel dog, but they kept on working till the blacksmith trade died out.

[@user-augurus]

Да ​@@KB10GL так было в Союзе до московской Олимпиады... По мне, так зря тот "вавилон" устроили, понты и самолюбование "членов" ЦК🫣 А далее... 😔 Быть Добру, СоЗнанию, Чести, СоВести и Мирному Небу✊️

[@ianmangham4570]

Beautiful ❤😮

[@conragonza7149]

The most beautifull heli

[@sunset6010]

Way spectacular footage! ✨️

[@Jean-François-k4d]

Footage de gueule 😅😅😅

[@annpeerkat2020]

7:55 I was once on a 4wd training course, one of the students advised he was ex (UK) royal marines. He didn't seem to pay much attention during much of the training, and when it came to demonstrating his ability in vehicle recovery (unbogging a vehicle) he said oh, we learnt a different way.... we just called a helicopter. Needless to say, at the end of the training course he was still as useful as tits on a bull.

[@chrislong3938]

Boy! Your story reminded me of when I was in the Army and we had a duece and a half get stuck in some of the most liquified mud I'd ever seen! The top 6 inches of the ground was fine and would support a man, no problems, but as soon as the truck tried to climb a hill that had never been driven on, it just went straight into it rather than up! We were towing a radar set as well and so we called out a 5 ton recovery vehicle and it was unable to do anything. As it winched, it pulled itself off the hard pan towards the stuck truck! After giving up on that idea, they brought in an M-60 tank recovery vehicle and it pulled the duece out by the radar leaving a huge muddy trench! That duece would still be there if they couldn't get the M-60! I'll bet the trench is still there!

[@pjt]

This is the most soviet thing ive ever seen

[@CH-tp4wz]

No shit!!! I have to agree with you there.

[@williamroark4760]

Did you all actually watch the whole video? It was a couple Soviet helicopters, very poorly discussed, then transitioning into modern US aircraft. Shit video.

[@Lurch-Bot]

Literally falling apart and they're flying it anyway. Authentic Soviet attitude towards aviation.

[@spastikusmaximus7146]

Wunderschöne Maschinen 💪🇷🇺

[@adamweston4152]

The ka 26 is like the Citroen 2CV of helicopter's 😂 even sounds like a 2CV.

[@KB10GL]

I guess that I can appreciate the sentiment regarding the 2CV, however, if ever I see a 2CV that sounds like a 9 cylinder radial, that's when I get the hell off the road.

[@Ratzfourtyfour]

Nah, I don't see it.. The Ka 26 is a helicopter, and the 2CV is more like powered wheelbarrow.

[@Tillerman56]

@@Ratzfourtyfour 2CV is a very cleverly engineered car, very capable in difficult terrain. Large wheels, narrow tyres, very smooth suspension and a lot of up-and-down movement of the wheels. Heavy chassis, light body so it rolls heavily but you would have to try very hard to get it tipping over and onto its side. I had 10 of them when they were very common here. I'll drive a 2CV any day, any wheather, any terrain. I prefer this wonder on wheels above anything with a V8.

[@eveningstarnm3107]

The intro mentioned a lot of earlier helicopters, but the video DIDN'T SHOW A PICTURE OF A SINGLE ONE OF THEM. I have no idea what kind of machines you were talking about. I can't associate model numbers with a particular helicopter. You're supposed to show us.

[@manpowerdtank]

Kamov Ka-8 would be one of earliest Soviet helicopters. You can search and see it from another movie.

[@ElliottMoreno-nd2hh]

Good thing you have the entire internet at your disposal, and can search it up whenever you want

[@Bob-tn5xn]

Oh well ! Go have a cookie and think about what you've done

[@necroticism]

sounds like a you problem.

[@TommyWylie]

@@ElliottMoreno-nd2hh That's not really the point... when examples of helicopters are mentioned it's good practice and common courtesy to accompany them with images.

[@Tillerman56]

These rotors are contra-rotating, they are on the same shaft but turn in opposite direction. Counter-rotating are two propellors or rotors each on its own shaft, turning in opposite directions.

[@FredPilcher]

Are those rotors contrarotating? It didn't look like it in the early shots, but it doesn't have an anti-torque rotor, so I suppose they must be.

[@kiowa1508]

I know, right.😜?

[@martinkasper197]

Who can read has a proper advantage..🤣

[@TommyWylie]

Yes but the video has a strobe effect due to the sample rate.

[@DesertVox]

The maintenance is like that of an overused truck. But it's a flying one, and any mishap is fatal.

[@misterguts]

They use beer to get this thing to fly: Beer to get the pilot high enough to fly it... A stein of beer gets the engine running... They run beer in the coolant loop... And if any poor soul doesn't come back from a mission, they pour out a beer for him.

[@peregrev]

Эта машина может сесть на авторотировании,вертолёт классической схемы,скорее всего разобьётся при отказе двигателей.

[@KB10GL]

Any "mishap" in any helicopter can be fatal. Soviet ones included. Maintain it correctly, service it as required & fly it right, & any helicopter will minimise the chances of a "mishap"

[@jmi5969]

The only weird thing about Ka-26 is that it flies over my country estate regularly, scaring the birds and the neighbours. Some say that the chopper works for the tax service, looking for unregistered buildings. I ask in return, how long is your untaxed barn standing there? ten years? fifteen? relax, if they hadn't called yet, they won't.

[@LAMAQUINAELECTRONICA]

el sonido esta divino muy silecioso los rusos son los mejores inventando maquinas

[@bobbybooshay8641]

Cool machine. Would be fun to have one.

[@ProctorsGamble]

KA26 looks like a flying shopping cart 🛒 😆

[@Hykje]

The bottom rotor's blades on the first one are passing nervousness-inducingly close to the engine pods when the whole thing rotates. I would try to find a place at a safe distance from that thing when they start up the engines.

[@Wuei108]

Wird in der Schweiz bei der Höhenrettung ein gesetzt.

[@AbdelLibyou]

❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@expeditoedvaldo1773]

O helicóptero é uma máquina de engenharia espetacular.

[@maddinswelt3163]

Arma 3 called.. they want their chopper design back....

[@kiowa1508]

The engine cowling on the ka26 is actually rusting apart🤣. You must not have much to live for if you fly in that thing.

[@Lurch-Bot]

There is corrosion all over the aircraft and a catastrophic failure is in their not too distant future if they keep flying it. There are better maintained aircraft in outdoor static display in the US and Western Europe.

[@АнтонФишер-ъ6ж]

Они летают уже не первый десяток лет и ,поверьте, ещё пролетают столько же без серьёзных отказов. Ка-26 - настоящая рабочая лошадка, надёжная, очень маневренная простая и не прихотливая. А ещё у неё очень изящный внешний вид. Вот, не могу понять как вы связываете ржавчину на фюзеляже с грядущей аварией. Если вертолеты западной Европы и Американские выставить под открытом небом в средней полосе России они тоже поржавеют в первый же год ,​@@Lurch-Bot

[@maghrebcat890]

Если бы ты знал сколько ему лет. Плюс варварское обслуживание (

[@SodiumSyndicate]

@@Lurch-Bot Unlike Western delicate toys, Russian equipment are rugged, inefficient, simple & reliable. They just keep tugging along.

[@loualiberti4781]

It kind of looks like a Space 1999 Eagle - especially if it can be equipped with varying modules depending on its mission.

[@peregrev]

Он изначально модульный,за кабиной пилотов что только не ставили.

[@abcdef8923]

Это летающий трактор для сельского хозяйства, какой ещё "urban warfare"?

[@navypowertv]

Us Us Us No.1!!!

[@СерВайс-к1м]

Воры No.1!!!

[@GehtMichNixAn]

ideal Helicopter for Michael Manousakis Morlock Motors

[@maghrebcat890]

Геликоптер Камов в Афганистане поля опрыскивал маковые и каннабис. Потом пришла демократия и люди остались без работы)

[@Gumbo2x]

But will it blend?

[@eveningstarnm3107]

Tf does an Mi-26 need a navigator for? That's a fancy name for "gunner" or "loadmaster" or "medic". Great-looking helicopter though. A fun antique to play with.

[@chillerfrigotek9121]

RUS düşünür yapar, Batı Dünyası bu fikri çalar, geliştirir. :)

[@DerangedFent]

But it still works.. xD ... Profit?

[@dadasahebtarate5036]

"Weird" means unable to understand

[@annpeerkat2020]

I'm scratching my head why contra rotating rotors give some inherent advantage in crop dusting compared to a plane. I can understand benefits vs a single prop.... but given the inherent inefficiencies of a chopper vs a plane, I'm watching with baited breath for the revelation of chopper advantages. I mean... look at those vast fields. Being able to land on the back of a truck gives operational superiority....how? If it was in an asian land with terraced rice fields and only walking tracks, sure tight landing would help. They even have R/C micro helis and quads for crop dusting, but that's an entirely different world with different requirements.

[@mrdynamic8678]

So no hot refueling obviously lol

[@Shakalowski]

Because of becuse is because.

[@madjidhamdini1977]

11:30 Me playing GTA .

[@firefox3187]

What’s with the bottle😂

[@crusader2.0_loading89]

keep rain out the exhaust

[@Lurch-Bot]

@@crusader2.0_loading89 Yeah but why is it still there when they are starting the engines?

[@SodiumSyndicate]

@@Lurch-Bot To provide back pressure, eventually the bottle will be blown away.

[@thesayxx]

@@Lurch-Bot they only started 1 engine when that shot was taken. This puppy has 2

[@akn-31]

2:41 😮🙄

[@ural859]

Kamov the great.

[@djokomoertijonojack9501]

KAMOV HELICOPTER KEREN TENAGA GEDE

[@harrycebex6264]

We use the metric system now.👎

[@Spiegelradtransformation]

Metric System is much more logical. Ams know that several years .

[@mikemakuh5319]

minute 12: Defense? You mean like they defend themselves against wedding parties in third world countries??

[@mr.o6713]

Auf sowas kann ja nur ein betrunkener Russe kommen😂

[@misterguts]

Why do these helicopters have English words on their livery? That seems to defeat the purpose of having a Belarusian helicopter.

[@azkafebrian6164]

mantap

[@brandonevans4142]

Urban warfare my ass...a kid with a slingshot could bring this thing down

[@marcusetveronique7508]

Bref ..en regardant ces images ..un truc est sûr , c'est que ce sont d'etêment bons TEC , voire mécanos ... A l'inverse je pense de la France , du moins de ce que l'on retrouve ...sur le terrain , en voire plus personne !

[@marcusetveronique7508]

faute de frappe ! désolé ! "d'extrêmement " bons tec..

[@marcusetveronique7508]

Well... looking at these images, one thing is certain: they are definitely good technicians, or even mechanics... Unlike what I think of France, at least from what we find... in the field, where we hardly see anyone anymore.

[@devilsoffspring5519]

This thing looks older than dirt. No wonder the Soviets drank so much vodka, I'd need something to calm my nerves too!

[@garingarin1758]

вы и без водки вертолеты делать не умеете

[@dogyerf21]

When I was

[@lmt_53]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@detonator5000]

Technik, die begeistert!

[@eroildo.3374]

ESO SO LOS MODELOS 😂JJAJAJAJA MAS AVANSADOS 😂JJAJAJAJA PROJEECTO MUY SECRETO 😂JJAJAJAJA 🇮🇱

[@AndreasKress-c1k]

Was ist da seltsam? Schwachsinn

[@MarkusKorporaal]

Yes, particularly the C 130

[@adamedwards2261]

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@nelsonmolina325]

Los EEUU están a puertas de iniciar una gu3rr@ civil terrible ...el odio y el resentimiento unido a ese pensamiento nazi de casi todo el pueblo y sus dirigentes lo convirtieron en una bomba de tiempo ...que está semana va a estallar con las elecciones ...eso me encanta 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@antonioortiz7132]

En castellano, Por favor!!!!!!

[@cnc1]

USA 👍👍👍 Mi-26 👎👎👎

[@ALP839]

It is always funny to see that evaluating planes or helicopters is a matter of politics and ideology. So childish...

[@denrus4282]

Mi-26 🪝 USA

[@MB-yt2lu]

Они ещё с этим техникой на весь мир угрожают 😂😂😂

[@GTGibbs]

Yesterdays? LoLl

[@Shef-fh2pw]

А Каму они угрожают??

[@arnaldonunesparente]

Arnaldo Brasil. Os Soviéticos são fera nas construções destas MAQUINAS, Voadoras gostaria de ver um deste com formato de uma cabeça de Águia ok.

[@bcnpopnando7019]

What? The video starts with excellent Soviet-Russian technology and then they introduce us to Yankee technology? If I wanted Yankee propaganda, I would look for it. Respect please!

[@eroildo.3374]

Los rosos tienen vaves muy viejas 😂JJAJAJAJA no en valde PRÁCTICAMENTE perdieron. La guerrita con UCRANIA 😂JJAJAJAJA JJAJAJAJA 😂

[@nelsonmolina325]

Usted le tiraron el cerebro a un balde ?...es una antiguedad ...Rusia tiene el helicóptero de combate mas poderoso del mundo ...el cocodrilo .

[@Shef-fh2pw]

Если каждый день очищают земли от бандеровшины значит проигрывают😂😂😂

[@АлексейАчкасов-о9ь]

отвратительный , пропагандистский канал .

[@Lochness147]

no hicieron una cosechadora helicoptero porque no pudieron jaja no tenian mucho sentido comun los ingenieros jhahja

[@barikahiklanobattocinacell5931]

Jangan bilang karya anak bangsamu ya

[@alejandromtroitino2544]

estan locos, es un cacharro eso

[@arturodelacruz5672]

Ni es nada nuevo los helicoptero de doble hélice

[@arturodelacruz5672]

Yo siempre digo todo nueva tecnología de hoi es lo del pasado nada es nuevo

[@무주구천동-n6t]

개시아