Military experts recalled the Russian "Black Shark" and its uniqueness

The Russian attack helicopter Ka-50 "Black Shark", which made its first flight back in 1982, is rightfully considered a unique machine in the world aircraft industry. Details are provided by RIA Novosti.

According to columnist Andrei Kots, this single-seat combat unit became the world's first helicopter equipped with an ejection seat.

The K-37−800 rescue system operated as follows — when the ejection handle was activated, the propellers first shot off the rotor blades, then the explosives destroyed the cockpit glazing, after which the towing rocket pulled the seat with the pilot out. Then the straps were automatically cut, the back of the chair was separated, the parachute was opened.

Such a scheme guaranteed the pilot's rescue at an altitude of up to 4 kilometers and a speed of up to 350 km/h.

The Ka-50 was put into service in 1995, but in 2009 its serial production was discontinued, giving way to the two-seater Ka-52. Nevertheless, the "Black Shark" remained in history as a very bold engineering experiment.

EADaily previously also informed — a military analyst has calculated the cost of drones that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are sending to Russia.