Mikhail Mil

Russia

 

1909-1970

Mikhail Mil was a well-known Soviet helicopter designer and founder of Mil Helicopters.

Born in Irkutsk, Russia, Mil discovered his love for aviation as a young boy. When he completed secondary school, he moved to the Siberian Technological Institute in Tomsk, hoping to further study aviation. He became disatisfied with his education here midway, which led him to Don Polytechnical Institute where he received specialized training in aviation.

After he graduated, Mil found work at the Central Aero-Hydrodynamic Institute at Zhukovsky. There he quickly proved himself an expert in the aerodynamics of gyros and helicopters. In 1947, after 18 years there, he started Mil Helicopters, and within three years, he put the first Mi-1 helicopter into production. Over the next 20 years, Mil would oversee the production of seven helicopters, until his death in 1970. His impact on Russian aviation was so pronounced, they named the helicopter plant in Moscow after him, where they continue to produce Mil helicopters to this day.

 

Milestones associated with Mikhail Mil
September 20, 1948	First Mil helicopter flies (prototype of the Mil Mi-1 Type series)
April 30, 1952	First flight of the prototype of the Mil Mi-4 Type series
June 15, 1960	First flight of Mil Mi-10 prototype
June 24, 1961	First flight of the prototype (V-8 ) of the Mil Mi-8 Type series
January 14, 1965	First flight of the prototype of the Mil Mi-10K flying crane Type series
July 10, 1968	First flight of the largest helicopter ever flown (Mil V-12)
January 31, 1970	Mikhael Mil dies