In the last century, WW1 was a remarkable example of "static" warfare. Major armies spent years slugging it out between trenches only hundreds of yards (meters) apart. By contrast, WW2 was a war of mobility. From the German Blitzkrieg to Patton's relief of the siege at Bastogne, the Eighth Air Force or the massive fleets and landings in the Pacific, the world had never before seen such massive movement of men and machines.
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Early development began before WW2. In the U.S. a Russian émigré, Igor Sikorsky produced the first practical machines. In Russia, Mikhail Mil became the recognized leader and received his own design bureau. In the Soviet Union, 95% of all helicopters were designed by the Mil Design Bureau and helicopters there were often simply called "Mils". In the U.S. we shorten the designation of design and type, such as Mil-2 to Mi-2 or popularize the NATO designator such as "Hind" (Mi-24).
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As a utility transport, the Mi-2 can carry eight passengers plus the pilot or more than 1,500 pounds (700 kilos) of cargo internally or externally. It can be fitted with a door winch for Search and Rescue. In a medical evacuation role, it can carry four stretchers and a medical attendant and in the agricultural role it can be fitted with a hopper on each side carrying dry chemicals or liquids.
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