Parachuting from a Kamov Ka-26 helicopter

One of the most iconic and wonderfully retro helicopters in Hungary is the Kamov Ka-26. Despite being an old piece of Eastern engineering, both pilots and owners have a deep affection for it. Out of pure nostalgia, a small gathering was organized in the autumn of 2021, where one Ka-26 was fitted with a passenger cabin to make parachute jumps possible from this legendary machine.

The Kamov Ka-26 was developed in the 1960s by the Soviet Kamov Design Bureau, and it quickly became famous for its modular construction and coaxial rotor system, which eliminates the need for a tail rotor. The helicopter is powered by two Vedeneyev M-14V-26 nine-cylinder radial piston engines, each producing around 325 horsepower, giving it a maximum speed of about 170 km/h and a range of roughly 400 km.

Over 850 units were produced, and the Ka-26 became a true workhorse across the Eastern Bloc, widely used for agricultural spraying, cargo and passenger transport, and aerial observation. Interestingly, it was also occasionally employed for parachute training and jumps — although not specifically designed for this purpose, its removable rear doors made it surprisingly suitable for such operations.