Mi-8 HIP

The MI-8 HIP is a multi-role transport helicopter capable of carring troops or supplies as well as conducting armed attackes with rockets and guns. Along with the related, more powerful Mil Mi-17, the Mi-8 is among the world's most-produced helicopters, used by over 50 countries. As of 2015, it is the third most common operational military aircraft in the world.

It is often used to resupply guerrillas, insert detachments or provide close air support to attacking units. Designed as a transport helicopter, the Mi-8 proved a multi-purpose machine. The cable external suspension, equipped with the weight-measuring device, makes it possible to carry large size cargoes weighing up to three tons. If required, it became both combat, rescue and artillery observation helicopter.

The large, five-blade main rotor is mounted over the engine at the body midsection, while a weapon-carrying platform is mounted at the lower body midsection. External stores are mounted on weapons racks on each side of the fuselage. The HIP C has four external hardpoints; the HIP E, HIP H, have six; other variants have none. Not all available munitions are employed at one time, mission dictates weapon configuration.

Twin turboshaft engines are mounted on top of the fuselage with two round air intakes just above the cockpit and rounded exhaust ports aft. It is powered by two TV2117A turboshafts (2 x 1120 kW, or 2 x 1250 kW over a short time). The Mi-8 is capable of single-engine flight in the event of loss of power by one engine (depending on aircraft mission weight) because of an engine load sharing system. If one engine fails, the other engine's output is automatically increased to allow continued flight.

The airframe has a classic structure made of light metal alloys. The fuselage consists of a long, bus-like body with a rounded nose and glassed-in cockpit. Interior seats are removable for cargo carrying. The rear clamshell doors open, an internal winch facilitates loading of heavy freight. Floor has tiedown rings throughout. The cockpit accommodates a crew of three. The freight cabin is 5.34 m long, 2.32 m wide and 1.8 m high. There is a large sliding door forward on the portside, and a clamshell freight-loading door in the rear. The landing gear is a non-retractable tricycle type with a twin-wheel nose unit. On each side of the fuselage there is a pod for an external fuel tank, with a total capacity of 1830 litres. The two fuel pods are offset and mounted low on the body, which features an upswept rear section and tricycle landing gear. The tail boom tapers to the small, swept-back, and tapered fin with rotor on top right or left, with small flats mounted forward of the fin.

The basic serial produced multi-purpose transport version can carry up to 24 passengers, 4000 kg of load, or 12 wounded in case of a medical evacuation. The cargo cabin is equipped with a winch (lifting capacity of 150 kg). Loads up to 3000 kg can be carried underslung on a pylon under the fuselage. The aircraft carries a rescue hoist capable to 150 kg, and a cargo sling system capable to 3,000 kg.

It was developed since the early 1950s as a replacement of the preceding Mi-4. Its first flight was on 9 June 1961, the prototype of the final twin-turbine version (Hip-B) first flew on 17 September 1962. Production started at the end of 1965. and By 1985, more than 1500 Mi-8 were built. Mil Moscow helicopter plant joint stock company is the major designer and producer of military transport, civil transport, heavy-lift,multi-role helicopters. Mil is associated with the Rostov and Kazan production enterprises. Kazan is the oldest helicopter manufacturing plant in Russia and makes Mi-8 and Mi-17 helicopters. the Mi-8 was exported to Czechoslovakia, Algeria, East Germany, Hungary, Bolivia, Poland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Finland, and Ethiopia.

The multipurpose Mi-8AMT helicopter is a modern modification of the Mi-8 helicopter, designed to solve a wide range of tasks: transportation of passengers and cargo, transportation of bulky cargo on an external sling, search and rescue operations, and evacuation of victims. To increase the flight range, the helicopter can be equipped with additional fuel tanks. In the passenger version, the helicopter can be equipped with soft seats to carry 22 passengers in comfortable conditions.

The Mi-8 MTV-1 is fundamentally different from the Mi-8T helicopter in a more powerful power plant, modified avionics and a number of changes in the fuselage design. The power plant of the Mi-8MTV helicopter consists of two TV3-117VM gas turbine engines and a VR-14 main gearbox. The power of each engine is 2200 hp.

The Mi-8MTV-1 is unique in its functionality multipurpose helicopter, based at the Mi-8T. Different from Mi-8T powerful powerplant modified avionics and number of changes in the fuselage structure. It has two TV3-117VM gas turbine engines, the power of each of them is 2200 hp. An important stage in the modernization of the Mi-8 was equipping it with TVZ-117VM high-altitude engines, the first samples of which were tested in 1985. Mil OKB created a new basic model Mi-8MTV ( Mi-17-1V in export version), capable of taking off and landing at altitudes up to 4000 m and flying at altitudes up to 6000 m.In addition to ceilings, the rate of climb, range, etc. The new basic model was distinguished by modern equipment, including a weather radar station and a long-range navigation radio station, had armor, sealed tanks with polyurethane foam filler, bow and stern PKT machine guns, six suspended beam holders and pivot mounts for paratroopers' weapons.

Taking into account the "Afghan" experience, the survivability of parts and assemblies of the helicopter was increased, and for operational safety the Mi-8MTV was equipped with an emergency splashdown system developed jointly with French companies. Since 1988, the development of serial production of the Mi-8MTV (Mi-8MTV-1) began in Kazan. The basic model can be used in transport, amphibious assault, airborne assault, ambulance, ferry options, as well as in the options for a fire support helicopter and a mine operator. Following the Mi-8MTV-1 in the 1990s, the Kazan plant was followed by the basic modifications of the Mi-8MTV-2 and Mi-8MTV-3. Their cockpit housed up to 30 paratroopers. These vehicles had enhanced armor, upgraded systems. On the Mi-8MTV-3, out of six beam holders, only four remained, but the number of possible options for the suspension of weapons increased from 8 to 24. The helicopters received a tail rotor with an increased blade chord and increased rigidity of the control wiring, a parachute-free landing system and a side boom of higher carrying capacity. In 1991, the Mi-8MTV-3 served as a prototype for the export modification of the Mi-172, which was certified in the Indian Aviation Register in 1994 according to the American FAR-29 standards. All the improvements tested on these modifications were implemented in 1992 on the new Mi-17M demonstration model.