Flying by helicopter Mi-8 on snow Surgut

• Flight to the Mi-8 helicopter over the snow-covered Surgut

Russian helicopter Mi-8 is one of the most popular helicopters in the world history. The palm of the number of produced cars is second only light multi-purpose and transport Bell UH-1 "Iroquois" and "Huey", but it is the most popular twin-engine helicopter in the world. For all time produced more than 12,000 Mi-8 helicopters, of which more than 2000 exported more than 40 countries. Half of them are still in operation.

Another world record is a number of modifications of the Mi-8 - more than 80 - transport, passenger, military, medical, agricultural, etc. And this is no accident:.. This helicopter model is designed to perform a huge range of problems in different areas of human activity in the most different parts of the globe.

Most recently, I was able to pretty close to get acquainted with one of these workaholic, performing transport tasks in the northern part of Russia and hold it for about an hour, flying around the city of Surgut, and next to it the important economic facilities.

Flying by helicopter Mi-8 on snow Surgut

Interesting facts about Mi-8:

- all produced more than 12,000 helicopters of all modifications;

- the average annual production of about 350 units

- the cost of a car is 14, 5 to 17, $ 5 million, depending on the modification;

- Cost-hour flight - about 3, 5 thousand dollars,.

- hour helicopter burns about 700 kg fuel

- Mi-8 was used in 15 major wars and armed conflicts around the world;

A bit of history

In the late 1950s, both abroad and in the Soviet Union began work on the creation of the second generation of helicopters with turboshaft engines, and in May 1960 at a cost center has begun to develop a new multi-purpose helicopter to replace the well-established in the operation of multi-purpose Mi-4. Experienced his first flight in a helicopter-8 made in June 1961, and on 9 July was first demonstrated at the air festival at the Tushino airfield in Moscow.

Initially, the Mi-8 was developed for military purposes, but in 1964, after the removal of Khrushchev, the Air Force command did not take into service the Mi-8. only a few dozen machines were purchased for testing. However, the Mi-8 was highly otsenon Ministry of Civil Aviation of the USSR, make an order for a series of mass. And soon after that helicopters had expected an unprecedented triumph.

In June 1965, the Soviet Union presented at the international air show in Le Bourget, one of the most representative exhibitions. Mil helicopters - Mi-8, Mi-6, and a flying crane MI-10 caused a sensation among experts. After the air show in Le Bourget military command leadership of the USSR finally assess the merits of the Mi-8. He was used as a landing, transport, medical helicopter, flying command post, director of mines.

The modernization of the Mi-8, which ended in 1980, has led to an improved version of this machine - Mi-8Mt (for export sales - Mi-17), which is characterized by the improved powerplant (engine TV3-117 2) and the presence of the auxiliary power unit. Mi-17 is not as widely distributed and used in about 20 countries around the world. In 1991, started production of a new civil transport modification of the Mi-8AMT (export version is called Mi-171E), and in the late 1990s - a military transport and attack Mi-modification 8AMTSh (Mi-171SH).

May 19, 2010 in Konotop passed flight tests of Mi-8 MTV with engines of the latest modifications TVZ-117VMA-SBM1V. world record was set when the helicopter in 14 minutes 09 seconds, climbed to an altitude of 8100 meters. The maximum engine power - 2000 l. from. It was maintained for 30 minutes. Featured characteristics enable multi-purpose helicopter Mi-8, confidently fly in the mountains in the most extreme altitudes. Earlier, during the test of combat Mi-24 with the same engine it has recorded the highest rate of climb for the helicopter. At the height of 5000 meters the helicopter rose in just nine minutes.

a helicopter fuselage frame structure consists of the bow and the central portions, and rear end beams. In the bow is placed triple cabin crew consisting of two pilots and a flight engineer. cockpit glazing provides a good overview of the right and left sliding blisters are equipped with mechanisms for emergency dumping.

The helicopter has a tricycle landing gear

Wipers brushes resemble a conventional car

March 2013, the airport of Surgut. A technician prepares a Mi-8 helicopter to fly over the PS Surgut. It is on this car, released in Kazan in 1991, we, and flew over the city and its surroundings

The commander of the board calls for a landing. After a few minutes take off

Drifting snow, Lift 10-meter blades on the runway of the airport

Snow dust covers the sun unwinding screws

produced equipment

Our MI-8 a few rolls on the airfield and gently lifted into the air

Here is the cockpit during the flight.

Cottage village eyes of the pilot ...

... and through the lens

When the cab to lift his head up, see the escape hatch. Well, it is better to look ahead ....

In the vicinity of the mass of Surgut oil and gas companies and at some point you start to get tired of the hundreds of tanks, barrels, terminals and pipelines