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Mil Mi-1 Hare

Mil · Utility helicopter · USSR · Early Jet (1946–1969)

The Mil Mi-1 (NATO reporting name Hare) was a Soviet single-engine light utility helicopter — Mikhail Mil's first production helicopter + the Soviet Union's first mass-produced rotorcraft. Mikhail Mil designed the Mi-1 at the new OKB-329 Mil Design Bureau in 1947-1948; the prototype first flew on 20 September 1948. About 2,680 Mi-1s were built between 1950 and 1965 at Moscow Plant No. 3 + Orenburg Plant No. 47 + Soviet PZL Swidnik (Poland, as SM-1). The aircraft served Soviet Air Forces + Aeroflot + ~30 export operators 1950-1980s.

The Mi-1 used an Ivchenko AI-26V 7-cylinder radial piston engine (575 hp). Maximum speed 170 km/h, range 580 km, service ceiling 3,500 m. Capacity: 3 passengers + 1 pilot, or 250 kg cargo. The aircraft used conventional Sikorsky-style single-rotor + tail-rotor layout — establishing the Soviet helicopter design template Mil would refine through Mi-4, Mi-8, and beyond.

Mi-1 service spanned Soviet military liaison + civilian short-haul + agricultural + air-ambulance roles 1950-1980s. Export operators included Warsaw Pact states + China + Egypt + Iraq + Algeria + ~25 others. Polish PZL Swidnik SM-1 + SM-2 licence variants extended Polish helicopter industry through the 1970s. About 8 Mi-1 airframes survive in 2026 at Russian + Eastern European museums.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Mil Mi-1 was the Soviet Union's very first mass-produced helicopter. Mikhail Mil designed it in 1947 and 1948. The little helicopter could carry one pilot and three passengers, plus a small amount of cargo.

The Mi-1 had one piston engine in the middle and a single main rotor on top. The body was made of metal and looked a bit like a giant teardrop. It was about as long as a school bus. The whole helicopter weighed only about 5,000 pounds when empty.

About 2,680 Mi-1s were built between 1950 and 1965. They served all over the Soviet Union and in 30 other countries. The military used them as small scout helicopters. Aeroflot, the Soviet airline, used them for short flights and air taxi service.

The Mi-1 was retired in the 1980s when better turbine-powered helicopters took over. The design was important because it set the pattern for the much bigger Mi-4, Mi-6, and Mi-8 that came later. Mikhail Mil's design bureau still builds many of the world's biggest helicopters today.

Fun Facts

The Mi-1 was the Soviet Union's first mass-produced helicopter.
It first flew on 20 September 1948.
About 2,680 Mi-1s were built between 1950 and 1965.
The helicopter could carry one pilot and three passengers.
Mi-1s were used by the Soviet military and the Aeroflot airline.
Poland also built Mi-1s under a Soviet license, calling them the SM-1.

Kids’ Questions

Why did the Soviet Union take so long to build a helicopter?

The Soviet Union focused on planes and tanks during World War II. After the war, the Soviets saw how useful American helicopters were and started their own program. Mikhail Mil's team designed the Mi-1 only a couple of years after starting.

Is the Mi-1 still flying today?

No — the Mi-1 was retired in the 1980s when better turbine helicopters became cheap and common. A few Mi-1s are kept in museums in Russia, Poland, and other countries. You can sometimes still see one on display.

Variants

Mi-1 (basic): Standard production. ~2,000 built at Soviet plants.
SM-1 (Polish licence): Polish PZL Swidnik variant. ~680 built.

Notable Operators

Soviet Air Forces + Aeroflot (1950-1980s): Principal user. Liaison + agriculture + air-ambulance.
~30 export operators: Warsaw Pact + China + Egypt + Iraq + others.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Mi-1 the first Soviet helicopter?

First mass-produced. Earlier Soviet rotorcraft (Cheryomukhin TsAGI 1-EA 1932, Kamov Ka-8 1947) were prototypes only. The Mil Mi-1 was the first Soviet helicopter to enter series production + saw mass-production scale (2,680 built). It established Mil's bureau as the principal Soviet helicopter design organisation.

Sources

Wikipedia — Mil Mi-1