MIL Mi-8 (V-8)

NATO reporting name: 'Hip'

TYPE:

• Twin-turbine multipurpose helicopter.

PROGRAMME:

Development began in May 1960 to replace the piston-engined Mi-4.
• First prototype, with single AI-24V turboshaft and four-blade main rotor flew in June 1961, given NATO reporting name `Hip-A'.
• Second prototype (`Hip-B'), with two production standard TV2-117 engines and five-blade main rotor, flew in August 1962.

VARIANTS:

Mi-8 (`Hip-C'):

• Original civil passenger helicopter.
• Standard seating for 28 to 32 person in main cabin with large square windows.

Mi-8T (`Hip-C'):

• Basic civil transport version with circular cabin windows.
• Alternative payloads include internal or external freight, 24 passengers on removable folding seats, 26 passengers on conventional seats, 12 stretcher patients, or executive passengers in specially furnished cabin.

Mi-8TM:

• Upgraded civil transport version of Mi-8T with weather radar and rotor head integrity system, but retains starboard tail rotor.

Mi-8TG:

• Modified TV2-117TG engines permit operation on both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and kerosene.
• LPG contained in large tanks, on each side of cabin, under low pressure. Engines switch to kerosene for take-off and landing.
• Modification to operate on LPG requires no special equipment. Weights unchanged. Large external tanks, each side of cabin, reduce payload by 100 to 150 kg (220 to 330 lb) over comparable ranges, with little effect on performance.

Mi-8 Salon (`Hip-C'):

• Original deluxe version of Mi-8.
• Normally 11 passengers, on eight-place inward-facing couch on port side, two chairs and swivelling seat on starboard side, with table, square windows, air-to-ground radiotelephone, removable ventilation fans, compartment for attendant, with buffet and crew wardrobe forward of cabin, toilet (port) and passenger wardrobe (starboard) to each side of cabin rear entrance.
• Maximum T-O weight: 10,400 kg (22,928 lb), range: 205 n miles (380 km; 236 miles) with 30 minutes fuel reserve.

Mi-8 VIP:

• Current deluxe version by Kazan Helicopters.
• Three crew and seven to nine passengers, main rotor has vibration damper, interior divided into vestibule, passenger cabin, crew compartment, cloakroom and toilet.
• Passenger cabin contains soft seats, sofa, tables and mini-bar, optional water heater, TV and GPS.
• Maximum T-O weightis 12,000 kg (26,455 lb).

Military versions, with smaller circular cabin windows, are:

Mi-8T (`Hip-C'):

• Standard assault transport of CIS army support forces.
• Has twin-rack for stores on each side to carry 64 x 57 mm S-5 rockets in four UV-16-57 packs, or other weapons.

Mi-8AMT:

• Version with new engines, higher payload and IMC operating capability.

Mi-8PS (`Hip-C'):

• Military VIP transport, basically as civil Mi-8 Salon.

Mi-8VZPU (vozduzhnyi zapastnoi punkt upravlenya: airborne reserve command post) (`Hip-D'):

• As `Hip-C' but rectangular-section canisters on outer stores racks, two large dorsal antennae above forward part of tailboom, and no armament.

Mi-8TBK (`Hip-E'):

• Development of `Hip-C' with KV-4 flexibly mounted 12.7 mm machine gun, with 700 rounds in nose, triple stores rack on each side to carry a total of 192 S-5 rockets in six UV-32-57 packs, plus four 9M17P Falanga M (AT-2 `Swatter') anti-tank missiles on rails above racks.

Mi-8TV (`Hip-F'):

• Export `Hip-E'. Missiles changed to six 9M14 Malyutka (AT-3 `Sagger').

Mi-9 (`Hip-G'):

• An airborne command post characterized by antennas, and Doppler radar on tailboom.

Mi-17 (`Hip-H'):

• An upgraded medium assault/transport version.
• The designation Mi-17 is for export. The Russian armed forces called it Mi-8MT.
• The Mi-17 can be recognized because it has the tail rotor at the starboard side, instead of the port side.

Mi-8SMV (`Hip-J'):

• ECM version with additional small boxes on each side of fuselage, fore and aft of main landing gear legs.
• Used primarily for border surveillance.

Mi-8PPA (`Hip-K'):

• Active communications jammer and communications intelligence (comint) helicopter.

DESIGN FEATURES:

• Conventional pod and boom configuration, five-blade main rotor, three-blade starboard tail rotor, clamshell rear-loading freight doors.

POWER PLANT:

• Two 1,250 kW (1,677 shp) Klimov TV2-117AG turboshafts (1,434 kW; 1,923 shp TV3-117MTs in Mi-8MT).
• Main rotor speed governed automatically, with manual override.
• Original versions have flexible internal fuel tank, with a capacity of 445 litres (117.5 US gallons; 98 Imp gallons) or two external tanks, each side of cabin.
• A capacity of 745 litres (197 US gallons; 164 Imp gallons) in port tank and 680 litres (179.5 US gallons; 149.5 Imp gallons) in starboard tank.
• Total standard fuel capacity: 1,870 litres (494 US gallons; 411.5 Imp gallons).
• Provision for one or two ferry tanks in cabin, raising maximum total capacity to 3,700 litres (977 US gallons; 814 Imp gallons).
• Current Mi-8T has standard external tank capacity of 2,615 litres (691 US gallons; 575 Imp gallons), with 1,830 litres (483 US gallons; 402 Imp gallons) optional auxiliary fuel.

ACCOMMODATION:

• Two pilots side by side on flight deck, with provision for flight engineer's station.
• Military versions can be fitted with external flight deck armour. Windscreen de-icing standard.
• Basic passenger version furnished with 24 to 26 four-abreast track-mounted tip-up seats, removable bar, wardrobe and baggage compartment.
• Seats and bulkheads of basic version quickly removable for cargo carrying.
• Mi-8T and standard military versions have cargo tiedown rings in floor, an external cargo sling system (capacity 3,000 kg; 6,614 lb), and 24 tip-up seats along sidewalls of cabin.
• All versions can be converted for air ambulance duties, with accommodation for 12 stretchers and tip-up seats for medical attendants.
• Large windows on each side of flight deck slide rearward.
• Rear of cabin made up of clamshell freight-loading doors, which are smaller on commercial versions.

SOURCES

• komkon.org

LINKS

• Indian Air Force Pictures
• Mi-8 Picture Gallery
• Croation Air Force - Mi8-MTV-1 and Mi-8
• MiL Mi-8/17
• EMIL POZAR: Croatian Air Force