Mil Mi-4 Hound

Mil · Soviet Union · first flew 1952 · helicopter

A large single-piston-engined Soviet utility transport, distinctive for its radial nose engine and rear clamshell cargo doors.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Nose-mounted radial piston engine ahead of the cockpit
• Rear clamshell loading doors under the tail boom for vehicles and cargo
• High boxy fuselage with a ventral observation gondola on some variants

The radial piston engine in the nose, with its cooling intake ahead of the cockpit, sets it apart from later turbine types. The high boxy body, ventral gondola on some aircraft and rear clamshell doors confirm it.

Specifications

• The Mil Mi-4 Hound has a length of 16.8 m (55 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 21 m (69 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
• Typical crew: 2 (pilot, co-pilot).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in June 1952, the Mi-4 was designed in response to American helicopter use in Korea, as a counterpart to the Sikorsky H-19 but larger. A single Shvetsov radial piston engine in the nose drove a four-bladed main rotor, and rear clamshell doors let it load vehicles.

Variants

Versions included the baseline transport, the Mi-4A assault model, the Mi-4M maritime anti-submarine variant and the Mi-4P passenger model. It was also built under licence in China as the Harbin Z-5.

Where you'll see it

A 1950s Soviet workhorse used for transport, anti-submarine and civil tasks across the Warsaw Pact and exported widely. It saw little direct UK service.

Related aircraft

• Mil Mi-1
• Mil Mi-8 (Hip)
• Mil Mi-22
• Mi-24A (Hind-A)
• American Helicopter XH-26 Jet Jeep
• Bristol Sycamore HC Mk 10
• Kamov Ka-15
• Piasecki HUP-3 Retriever

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.