It became the first Soviet (European) and the second in the world (after the AH-1 "Cobra") specialized combat helicopter. Serial production began in 1971. It has many modifications, exported to many countries of the world. It was actively used during the years of the Afghan war, during the fighting in Chechnya, as well as in many regional conflicts.
Helicopters were serially built in the USSR at Plant No. 168 (Rostov Helicopter Production Association, then the Rostvertol Aircraft Manufacturing Company) and Plant No. 116 (Progress Aircraft Plant, Arsenyev).
For 2021, it is the second most common attack helicopter in the world after the AH-64 Apache
Design
The Mi-24 is built according to the classic single-rotor scheme with a five-blade three-hinged main rotor and a three-blade tail rotor.
Chassis tricycle, retractable, with a swivel front support.
In the forward part of the fuselage there is a two-seat cockpit according to a tandem scheme: the pilot-operator is in a separate front cockpit, behind him is the crew commander (pilot), whose cockpit is raised 0.3 m above the operator's cockpit for easy viewing, the on-board technician can be placed on folding seat in the cargo compartment behind the cockpit. The crew is in pressurized cabins equipped with an air conditioning system or a life support system (for Mi-24R helicopters), a slight overpressure is maintained in them to prevent the ingress of contaminated air and radioactive dust.
