Kraków 2022-01-19
A new exhibit in Czyżyny.
Hungarian Mikhail Mil Mi-24 nb 171.
Mi-24 combat helicopters have been or are used in about 60 countries around the world. One of the users is Hungary.
The first countries to buy Mi-24 A helicopters were: Ethiopia, Algeria, Libya, Vietnam and Afghanistan. But these helicopters had little combat value. Only the modernized version of the Mi-24 D, adopted by the Red Army in 1976, gained recognition in the Warsaw Pact countries. The Mi-24 D helicopters were bought in 1982 by the Hungarian aviation, and a few years earlier by Poland.
The next version was the Mi-24 W helicopters, officially adopted by the CCCP military aviation in 1976. In addition to the CCCP, they found their way into the equipment of some Warsaw Pact countries: Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, East Germany and Hungary.
There was also a version of the Mi-24 P, which was used by CCCP and East Germany. After the reunification of Germany, several Mi-24 P helicopters were sold to the Hungarian aviation.
In 2018, Hungary decided to modernize 12 Mi-24 helicopters in Russia. A contract worth over 20 billion forints was signed, i.e. approximately EUR 64 million. The renovation was carried out by Lotnicze Zakłady Remontowe No. 419 in Moscow, which belongs to the Russian Helicopters concern. The helicopters are to be operated by at least 2025. The cabin equipment was modernized and its lighting was adapted to the use of night vision goggles. At the same time, 16 turbine engines TW-3-117 W of the Hungarian Mi-24 helicopters were delivered to the Klimov plant belonging to the Rostech concern for general repairs.Let us remind you that Hungary is a member of NATO, but currently does not have a sufficient budget to replace combat helicopters with Western technology.
Mil Mi-24 nb 171 in Krakow.
As a result of the inspection of its aviation equipment, Hungary handed over the Mi-24 nb 171 helicopter as an exhibit to the Polish Aviation Museum in Krakow. This helicopter is a so-called ‘blown’, without engines, main rotor gears, tail rotor gears and other equipment. These elements constitute a reserve of spare parts that can be used during subsequent repairs of helicopters operated in Hungary. The Mi-24 nb 171 helicopter was delivered to Kraków in September 2021.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman