PlaneFox tracks 1 Ka-26 aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
A Kamov Ka-26 flies about 216 nm, roughly 400 km, which is about 2 h 40 min in still air at typical cruise.
A Kamov Ka-26 costs about EUR 5,458 a month to run, or about EUR 437 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
The Kamov Ka-26 is a Soviet light utility helicopter designed and built by Kamov. It first flew in 1965, with series production beginning in the late 1960s and continuing into the 1980s. Unlike most light helicopters of its era, the Ka-26 uses Kamov’s coaxial contra-rotating rotor system, eliminating the need for a tail rotor and giving the aircraft a compact footprint. Its defining feature is a modular rear section: operators could fit a passenger cabin, agricultural spray gear, cargo equipment or other mission kits behind the cockpit. This made the Ka-26 important as a multi-role agricultural, utility and light transport helicopter, especially across the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Typical cruise speed is about 80 knots, with maximum speed usually cited around 90 knots depending on configuration and weight. Range is commonly listed at roughly 215 nautical miles. The Ka-26 can carry around 1,985 lb of payload in suitable configurations, including passengers, cargo or agricultural equipment. Service ceiling is about 9,800 feet. Power comes from two Vedeneyev M-14V-26 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, each rated at about 325 hp. The twin-engine layout and coaxial rotor system are central to the aircraft’s operating character, but buyers should remember that performance varies significantly with module fitted, temperature, field conditions and aircraft condition.
The standard layout has a cockpit for one or two crew and, when fitted with the passenger module, seating for up to six passengers. The cabin is practical rather than refined, with broad visibility from the cockpit and a utilitarian rear compartment. Many Ka-26 aircraft were delivered with Soviet-era analog flight and engine instruments, basic radio equipment and mission-specific controls for agricultural work. Modern used examples may have upgraded VHF radios, transponders, GPS units or locally approved navigation equipment, but integrated glass systems such as Garmin G1000 or Garmin Perspective are not typical for this model.
Prospective buyers should focus on airframe condition, corrosion, rotor system life status, gearbox history, engine times, logbook continuity and the availability of approved parts. The condition and documentation of mission modules are also important, because agricultural, cargo and passenger configurations affect both utility and resale appeal. Commonly encountered aircraft include utility and agricultural Ka-26 configurations, while turbine successors such as the Ka-126 and Ka-226 should not be treated as the same model. On the used market, the Kamov Ka-26 is a specialized, lower-volume choice suited to buyers comfortable with legacy Soviet equipment, piston radial maintenance and regional support networks.