The first Soviet helicopter line

Kazan Helicopters dates its foundation to 4 September 1940. Its place in history was secured eleven years later, when in 1951 it launched the first series production of helicopters in the USSR, building Mikhail Mil’s small Mi-1. It followed with the Mi-4, the first Soviet helicopter to be exported, and so began a relationship with Mil’s design bureau that has lasted for more than seventy years.

Mi-8 a Mi-17

The Mi-8 became the plant’s staple. Kazan built the Mi-8 family in enormous numbers and is the only producer of the military Mi-17; it has also built the Mi-24/35 gunship. By 2019 more than 12,000 helicopters had come out of Kazan, flying a combined total of more than 50 million hours, with exports to about 100 countries. The company also operates from a heliport at Tomilino, outside Moscow, which it has used since 2007.

Ansat and after

Kazan has also tried to build its own designs. The light twin-engine Ansat was introduced in 1999 with Pratt & Whitney Canada engines, and the plant has produced the Mi-38 heavy helicopter and the Aktai light helicopter. Today Kazan Helicopters is part of the Russian Helicopters holding; in 2016 it reported revenue of 377 million dollars. That year it posted an operating loss of 29.2 million dollars but a small net profit of 1.94 million, on total assets of about 1.02 billion.

Továrny

• Kazan plant · Kazan, Tatarstan — Main factory; also Tomilino heliport

Rekordy a prvenství

• First series production of helicopters in the USSR, Mi-1, 1951