Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant Mi-2

Twin Rotorcraft

The Mil Mi-2 is a Soviet-designed light utility helicopter that became one of the most widely produced rotorcraft of the Cold War era, with over 5,400 built between 1965 and 1999. Uniquely among Mil helicopters, the Mi-2 was manufactured exclusively in Poland by PZL-Świdnik under license, making it the only Soviet helicopter design to be produced entirely outside the USSR. Powered by twin Isotov GTD-350 turboshaft engines delivering 400 horsepower each, the Mi-2 was designed as a successor to the piston-powered Mi-1 and became a workhorse for civilian operators, police forces, and military transport across Eastern Europe, with significant exports to over 20 countries worldwide. The type's tandem turboshaft configuration provided redundancy unusual for light helicopters of its era, enhancing safety for utility missions including medevac, agricultural spraying, and passenger transport. With a maximum cruise speed around 120 knots and a service ceiling of 13,100 feet, the Mi-2 offered respectable performance for a light twin, though its 3,700-kilogram maximum takeoff weight limited payload to roughly 700 kilograms with full fuel. While most Mi-2s have been retired from military service in favor of modern Western types following the end of the Cold War, a modest number remain active in civilian roles, particularly in Poland and former Warsaw Pact nations. SkyMeter has tracked 2 flights across 1 airframes and 1 operators over routes, with STATE OF IOWA, UNIVERSITY OF IOWA the largest observed operator.