Editing Aeroflot (section)

====Other functions====
[[File:Aeroflot Mil Mi-10 at Groningen Airport.jpg|thumb|An Aeroflot Mi-10 heavy lift helicopter seen at [[Groningen Airport]] in the early 1970s]]
Once the world's largest [[Air carrier|carrier]],<ref name="FI1981">{{cite journal|title=World airline directory – Aeroflot |journal=Flight International |date=16 May 1981 |pages=[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201387.html 1389], [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1981/1981%20-%201387.html 1390]}}</ref>{{rp|1389}} Aeroflot did not restrict its operations to the transportation of passengers, but [[monopoly|monopolised]] all civil aviation activities within the [[Soviet Union]]. Apart from passenger transportation that covered a domestic network of over 3,600 villages, towns and cities, activities undertaken by the airline that were labelled as "non-transport tasks" included [[air ambulance]]; [[aerial application]]; heavy lifting for the [[Soviet space program|Soviet Space Agency]]; offshore oil platform support; exploration and [[aeromagnetic survey]] for natural resources; support for construction projects; transport of military troops and supplies (as an adjunct to the [[Soviet Air Force]]); atmospheric research; and [[Aerial surveillance|remote area patrol]]. It operated hundreds of helicopters and cargo aircraft in addition to civil airliners. It also operated the Soviet equivalent of a [[Air transports of heads of state and government|presidential aircraft]] and other VIP transports of government and [[Communist Party of the Soviet Union|Communist party]] officials.<ref name="davies" />{{rp|94}}<ref name="FI1981"/>{{rp|1389}}<ref name="Aerial work in the U.S.S.R.">{{cite journal|title="Aerial work" in the U.S.S.R. |date=29 October 1954 |journal=Flight |pages=[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202960.html 645], [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1954/1954%20-%202961.html 646]}}</ref> Aeroflot was also responsible for such services as ice patrol in the Arctic Ocean and escorting of ships through frozen seas; oil exploration; power line surveillance; and transportation and heavy lifting support on construction projects. For the latter tasks, Aeroflot used, in addition to smaller helicopters, the [[Mil Mi-10]] flying crane capable of lifting {{convert|11000 to 14000|kg|lb}}. Hauling of heavy cargo, including vehicles, was performed by the world's largest operational helicopter, the [[Mil Mi-26]]. Its unusual eight-blade rotor enabled it to lift a maximum payload of 20 tons. The medium- and long-range passenger- and cargo aircraft of Aeroflot were also part of the strategic air transport reserve, ready to provide immediate airlift support to the armed forces. Short-range aircraft and helicopters were available for appropriate military support missions.