Ho Chi Minh’s Helo
Ho Chi Minh’s Helo
20° 59′ 58″ N / 105° 49′ 46″ E
The nose of the Hound contained a reciprocating radial air-cooled engine — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
Ho Chi Mihn’s Mil Mi 4 “Hound” transport on exhibit at the Vietnam Air Defense – Air Force Museum — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
The Vietnam Military History Museum (Bảo tàng Lịch sử Quân sự Việt Na) in Hanoi has on display a fixed wing personal transport of Ho Ch Mihn, an Ilyushin Il 14 “Crate” — but there is a rotary wing personal transport which flew President Ho Chi Mihn in another Hanoi museum, the Vietnam Air Defense – Air Force Museum Air Defense (Bảo tàng Phòng không– Không quân). This is where a Mil Mi 4 (NATO reporting name “Hound”) which flew President Minh sits atop a platform on the museum grounds. It is painted in a striking blue and has a twin-like resemblance to the Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw though it is larger and more powerful. Unusually for a helicopter, though not rarely, the Hound has a four-point landing gear design — to prevent ground resonance (a condition where the rotor system causes the helicopter to vibrate fiercely and destructively) helicopters normally have two skids or a three-point system though the Boeing CH-47 Chinook is a notable exception.
Ho Chi Mihn’s Mil Mi 4 “Hound” transport, note the Hound’s standard entry hatch — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
Ho Chi Mihn’s Mil Mi 4 “Hound” transport has the rear clamshell doors permanently closed — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
The Hound’s air intakes were above the exhausts with a pair in each side, also note the rotors rotate opposite the direction of U.S. made helicopters — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
Ho Chi Mihn’s Mil Mi 4 “Hound” transport — photo by Catherine Dowman ©2013
Our thanks to Catherine Dowman for contributing these images 🙂
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