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Mil Mi-8
From PlaneSpottingWorld, for aviation fans everywhere
| Mi-8 | |
|---|---|
| A Polish Air Force Mil Mi-8 | |
| Type | Transport helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant |
| Maiden flight | 9 July, 1961 |
| Introduced | 1967 |
| Status | In service |
| Primary users | Soviet Union ca. 80 other countries |
| Produced | 1961- |
| Number built | >12,000 |
| Unit cost | $5-8 million (2006) |
| Variants | Mil Mi-14 Mil Mi-17 Mil Mi-24 |
The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name "Hip") is a medium twin-turbine transport helicopter that can also act as a gunship. The first single-engine (AI-24W) prototype, W-8, flew in 9 July 1961. A second one with two AI-24W engines made its first flight on 17 September 1962. After few changes it was introduced into the Soviet Air Force by 1967 as Mi-8.
The Mi-8 is the world's second most-produced helicopter[1], and is used by over 50 countries. There are numerous variants, including the Mi-8T which is armed with rockets and anti-tank guided missiles, in addition to carrying twenty four soldiers. The Mil Mi-17 export version is employed by around 20 countries; its equivalent in Russian service in the Mi-8M series. The naval Mil Mi-14 and attack Mil Mi-24 are also derived from the Mi-8.
Contents
Operational service
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. This article has been tagged since December 2007. |
Use in Finland
File:Mi-8 kuljetushelikopteri.jpg
Finnish Mi-8 in Hernesaari, Helsinki, in 2005
The Finnish Defence Forces and the Finnish Border Guard have been using Mi-8s since the 1970s. Six Mi-8Ts were first obtained, followed by a further two Mi-8Ts and two Mi-8Ps. Three of the helicopters were given to the Border Guard Wing. One of these were lost after having sunk through the ice during a landing. This was soon replaced by a new Mi-8. After their Border Guard service, the helicopters were transferred to the civil register, but shortly thereafter to the Finnish Air Force. In 1997 it was decided that all helicopters, including the remaining five Mi-8Ts and two Mi-8Ps should be transferred to the Army Wing at Utti. Two Mi-8s are still in active service (as of 2007), since deliveries of NH90 helicopters have been delayed for more than 3 years due to delays in the type approval certificate. One Mi-8 is now exhibited at the Finnish Aviation Museum in Vantaa, and one is in Päijät-Häme Aviation Museum in Vesivehmaa near Lahti.
Variants
Prototypes/experimental/low production variants
- V-8 (NATO - Hip-A)
- The original single-engined prototype.
- V-8A
- A twin-engined prototype, featuring TV2-117 turboshaft engines, the prototype underwent further modifications during its life.
- V-8AT
- Prototype of the Mi-8T utility version.
- Mi-8 (NATO - Hip-B)
- Twin-engined prototype.
- Mi-8TG
- Conversion to operate on LPG gas.
- Mi-18
- Prototype helicopter design, a modification of the existing Mil Mi-8. Two Mi-8s were extended by 0.9 meters (3 ft), the landing gear made retractable, and a sliding door added to the starboard side of the fuselage. The Mi-18s were used in the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and later used as static training airframes for pilots of the Mi-8/17.
Basic military transport / airframe variants
- Mi-8T (NATO - Hip-C)
- First mass production utility transport version, can carry unguided rocked pods (with S-5 rockets) and side mounted PK machine gun.
- Mi-8TVK (NATO - Hip-E)
- Version used as a gunship or direct air support platform. Airframe modifications add 2x external hard points for a total of 6, and mount a flexible 12.7 mm machine gun in the nose. Armament of 57 mm S-5 rockets, bombs, or AT-2/SWATTER ATGMs.
- Mi-8TBK (NATO - Hip-F)
- Armed export version, fitted with six launch rails to carry and fire Malyutka missiles..
Command and electronic warfare variants
- Mi-8IV (NATO - Hip-G, for export - Mi-9)
- Airborne command post version characterized by antennas, and Doppler radar on tail boom (based on Mi-8T airframe).
- Mi-8PPA (NATO - Hip-K)
- Airborne jamming platform characterized by 6x “X”-shaped antennas on the aft fuselage. Built only for export.
- Mi-8PD
- Polish airborne command post version.
- Mi-8PS (NATO - Hip-D, aka Mi-8TPS)
- Radio relay and command post version.
- Mi-8SMV (NATO - Hip-J)
- Airborne jamming platform characterized by small boxes on the left side of the fuselage. Used for protection of ground attack aircraft against enemy air defenses.
- Mi-8VPK (NATO - Hip-D, aka Mi-8VZPU)
- Airborne communications platform with rectangular communication canisters mounted on weapons racks.
Other military variants
- Mi-8MB
- Military ambulance version.
- Mi-8R
- Reconnaissance version.
- Mi-8K
- Artillery observation version.
Civil variants
- Mi-8T
- Civilian utility transport version, with accommodation for 24 passengers, fitted with tip-up seats along the cabin walls and circular cabin windows.
- Mi-8P
- Civilian passenger transport version, with accommodation for between 28 and 32 passengers, fitted with square cabin windows.
- Mi-8S "Salon"
- Civilian VIP transport version, with accommodation for between 9 and 11 passengers.
- Mi-8MPS
- Search and rescue version (operated usually in Malaysia for Fire and Rescue Department services).
- Mi-8MA
- Polar exploration version for use in the Arctic.
- Mi-8AT
- Civilian transport version, with upgraded engines.
- Mi-8ATS
- Agricultural version, fitted with hoppers and spray bars.
- Mi-8TL
- Air accident investigation version.
- Mi-8TM
- Upgraded transport version, fitted with a weather radar.
- Mi-8TS
- Hot and high desert version.
- Mi-8VIP
- De luxe VIP transport version, with accommodation for between 7 and 9 passengers.
Operators
Military Operators
File:World operators of the Mil Mi-8.png
Mi-8 and Mi-17 operators
File:Mi-8 Hip Roving Sands 99.jpg
An Mi-8 during "Roving Sands 99".
File:Mi-8 Croatian airforce.jpg
Croatian Mil Mi-8MTV-1
File:Krzesiny 97RB.JPG
Polish Mi-8S
File:Mi-8T of SAF.jpg
Serbian Mi-8T cargo helicopter
File:Mi-8 YPA.jpg
Mi-8T helicopter of YuAF.
File:Ukr af mil 8.jpg
Ukrainian Mi-8, primarily used by the Airmobile Forces
- Template:AFG: 65 have been acquired by the Afghan Air Force, with deliveries of 30 Mi-8 since 1971, and 35 Mi-17 since 1987.[2]
- Template:ALB: At least 1 Mi-8T has been acquired by the Albanian Air Force during the mid 1990s from Ukraine.[2]
- Template:DZA
- Template:ANG
- Template:AIA
- Template:ARM: 13 in service.[3]
- Template:AZE: 13 Mi-17s in service.
- Template:BLR
- Template:BGD: 43 Mi-17s and some Mi-8/Mi-8 MTVs in service.
- Template:BHU: 7 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:BIH: 3 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:BUL: 18 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:BFA: 5 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:CAM: 6 Mi-8/17s in service.
- Template:CHN: 250 Mi-8/17s in service.
- Template:COL: 10 Mi-17 in service
- Template:CRO: 15 Mi-8MTVs in service, 10 new Mi-171Sh entered service in 2007
- Template:CUB
- Template:CZE: 40 Mi-8/17s in service.
- Template:DJI: 3 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:DDR
- Template:EGY: 42 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:EST
- Template:ETH: 12 Mi-8s in service.
- Template:FIN: Finnish Army, 2 of total 10 Mi-8 in service, 1 stored (will be withdraw from use in 2008/9)
- Template:GER: Ex-Eastern Germany helicopters
- Template:GEO: 18 Mi-8T/MTV helicopters in service.
- Template:GHA: Ghana Air Force
- Template:GNB: 1 Mi-8T in service.
- Template:HUN: 23 Mil Mi-8 helicopters in service.
- Template:IND: 134 Mi-8s in service of Indian Air Force.
- Template:IDN: 10 Mi-17 was in order in 2006.
- Template:IRN: 52 Mi-8/17s in service.
- Template:IRQ:
- Template:IRN: 52 in service
- Template:KAZ
- Template:KEN: used by the police for patrols acquired second hand in 2001.
- Template:KGZ: 8 Mi-8s are in service of Iraq Air Force.
- Template:LAO:
- Template:LAT: 4 Mi-8/17 MTV in service.
- Template:LBA
- Template:LTU: 9 in service.
- Template:MKD: 6 in service.
- Template:MAD
- Template:MAS
- Template:MNE: 5 inoperable condition.
- Template:MDV
- Template:MLI
- Template:MEX
- Template:MDA 8 in service.
- Template:MGL
- Template:MOZ
- Template:MYA: 12 in service.
- Template:NEP
- Template:NIC
- Template:PRK
- Template:PAK
- Template:PER: 14 Mi-17s in service.
- Template:POL
- Template:ROM
- Template:RUS
- Template:SRB: 15 Mi-8's and 2 Mi-17's in service
- Template:SRI
- Template:SVK
- Template:SOM
- Template:USSR: passed on to successor states.
- Template:SUD
- Template:SYR
- Template:TJK
- Template:TKM
- Template:UGA
- Template:UKR: Used by the Ukrainian Airmobile Forces, Ukrainian Air Force and Ukrainian Ground Forces
- Template:UZB
- Template:USA: Used by the 6th Special Operations Squadron for training.
- Template:VIE
- Template:VEN (Mi-17)
- Template:YEM
- Template:YUG: Operated about 93 Mi-8T helicopters, passed on to successor states.
- Template:ZAM
- On October 15, 2006, India agreed to acquire 80 Mi-17 helicopters from Russia in a deal worth approximately US$662 million dollars.[4]
Civil Operators
File:Mi-8PS-Cuba.jpg
Aeroflot MI-8PS
File:Mil 8 fire.jpg
Heli Harvest Mi-8MTV
- Template:AZE: Azerbaijan Airlines (Mi-8T)
- Template:BUL: Balkan Bulgarian Airlines
- Template:PRC: China Northern Airlines
- Template:PRC: Eastern General Aviation (Mi-17-1)
- Template:COL: Vertical de Aviacion, Helistar, Heliandes, Helicol
- Template:CUB: Aerogaviota
- Template:EST: Border Guard
- Template:GER: German Police
- Template:IND: Jagson Airlines
- Template:NZL: Heli Harvest Ltd. (2x Mi-8MTV-1) based in Taupo
- Template:USSR: Aeroflot
- Template:RUS: Aeroflot
- Template:RUS: Aerokuznetsk
- Template:RUS: Altay Airlines
- Template:RUS: Baltiiskie Avialinii
- Template:RUS: Barkol
- Template:RUS: Kazan Enterprise
- Template:RUS: Vladivostok Air
- Template:SLE: Paramount Airlines, UTAir
- Template:SVK: Air Transport Europe
- Template:ZAF: UTAir S.A.
- Template:TKM: Turkmenistan Airlines
- Template:USA: Blackwater USA
- Template:VIE: VASCO - Vietnam Air Services
Specifications (Mi-8T)
Template:Aircraft specification
See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
References
- ↑ MIL Moscow helicopter plant website: "Concerning the number of machines built, the Mi-8 has been surpassed only by the Bell 204/205/212 family of light utility helicopters"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Historical Listings", World Air Forces.
- ↑ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15 2007.
- ↑ Mosnews.com
The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
- Mi-8/Mi-17 section at www.aviation.ru
- Mi-8 walkaround from Lutzk
- Mi-8PPA walkaround on ScaleModels.ru
Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
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| This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Mil Mi-8". |
