The Cold War threatened the world with nuclear annihilation. Amid escalating tensions, the Soviet Union faced an espionage nightmare that could cost them the atomic race.

American spy planes, soaring at extreme altitudes, were unveiling their nuclear secrets, capturing images of their hidden silos—even those tucked away in Siberia’s remote, frozen expanses. American pilots had learned a pattern: lone railroads and desolate roads apparently headed nowhere often led into Soviet Nuclear facilities.

The Soviets were pressed against the clock. They needed a clandestine method to transport 25-ton nuclear intercontinental ballistic missiles across their sprawling landscapes without leaving the faintest trail for their American adversaries to find.

Their solution was nothing short of spectacular. Enter the Mil Mi-12, a colossal contraption with the size of an airliner fused with the versatility of an airlift helicopter.

When unveiled at the Paris Air Convention in 1971, it shocked the world; there had never been anything like it. The alarm bells rang in the US as strategists tried to unveil the purpose of such a staggering machine…


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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.

As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.

All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.