07252 KAMOV KA-18 SOVIET CIVIL HELICOPTER

The Kamow Ka-18 was a Soviet, light, multi-role, civilian helicopter with coaxial main rotors and a fixed, four-support undercarriage. The drive was provided by a single engine Ivchenko AI-14VF with 280 HP. The machine first flew in 1956 and entered service a year later. It is estimated that about 120-200 copies of this helicopter were built in total. The Ka-18 was developed based on an earlier machine from the Kamowa Design Bureau, the Ka-15 helicopter. Compared to its predecessor, it was characterized by the use of an engine with greater maximum power and an enlarged pilot and passenger cabin. It was also dedicated primarily to medical transport and mail transport. In practice, it also turned out to be a useful agricultural and marine rescue helicopter. The last Ka-18 helicopters were decommissioned in the early 1970s.