China Buys Mi-26 Heavy-Lift Helicopters

China and a Russian company signed an agreement in Zhuhai on Nov. 4 for the purchase and delivery of two Mi-26 helicopters. The Mi-26 has the largest payload capacity in the world.
“The China Flying Dragon Special Aviation Company introduced the first Mi-26 helicopter in China in 2007 through a leasing arrangement. The company has now purchased it outright. The handover of the property rights was finalized at today’s ceremony,” said an official of China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation. “The second Mi-26 helicopter in the agreement was purchased by Yangtze River International Leasing Company, then through a leasing arrangement, will be delivered to Qingdao Helicopter Co. Ltd., primarily (used) for forest fire protection in Northeast China,” he said. After Wenchuan in Sichuan Province was hit by a devastating earthquake this May, two Mi-26 helicopters (one offered by Russia) flew to the disaster-stricken area, where they played a pivotal role in relief efforts.