Evolution of the Mi-8. How the legendary G8 manages to keep up with the times

In the year of the 60th anniversary of the first flight of the Mi-8, we talk about the history of this famous machine and its modern modifications

At the National Helicopter Engineering Center named after. M.L. Mil and N.I. Kamov, development work to improve the Mi-8MTV-5-1 helicopter was completed. According to the Russian Helicopters holding company (part of the Rostec state corporation), the updated aircraft meets all modern army aviation requirements of the Russian Aerospace Forces. The next stage is mass production and delivery to the troops.

Birth of a legend

The Mi-8 helicopter (at the first stages of development of the V-8) was created as part of a project to modernize the multi-purpose Mi-4 helicopter, produced since the early 1950s. At first, it was planned to equip the G8 with a gas turbine engine instead of a piston engine, improve ergonomics and increase load capacity. As a result, the development team under the leadership of designer Mikhail Mil created a new aircraft: the power plant was moved from the nose to the space above the cabin, the cockpit was equipped with more extensive glazing, and a three-leg landing gear was installed instead of a four-wheel one.

Passenger helicopter B-8, 1962

Image source: © E. Polonsky/TASS

On July 9, 1961, the first prototype of the V-8 took off with one AI-24V turboprop engine and a four-bladed propeller. On August 2, 1962, the B-8A prototype with two TV2-117 engines and a five-bladed propeller was first lifted off the ground by test pilot Nikolai Lyoshin, and on September 17 of the same year, the vehicle made its first full flight.

The new product was shown at an air parade in Tushino, and then exhibited at VDNKh as an example of the latest technologies in helicopter construction. Serial production of the Mi-8 started in March 1965 in Kazan.

Technical characteristics of the flight characteristics of the MI-8 1965

Years of production: since 1965.
Total manufactured: about 12 thousand units.
Combat use: military conflicts of the second half of the 20th century.
Crew – 3 people, landing force – up to 28 people.
Take-off weight – 12 tons.
Dimensions: length (with propellers) – 25.3 m, height (with tail rotor) – 5.5 m, main rotor diameter – 21.3 m.
Armament: 1x12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine gun, hardpoints for unguided aircraft missiles and bombs.
Gas turbine engines.
Maximum speed – 260 km/h.
Practical ceiling – 4.2 km.
Flight range – 425-480 km.

Helicopter photo

Video about MI8

Helicopter 100 professions

The demand for the Mi-8 exceeded all expectations: in 1970 it was even necessary to launch a second serial production in Ulan-Ude. The first to appreciate all the advantages of the new car were in civilian life. The Mi-8 is capable of operating in terrain difficult to reach for other types of transport, landing and taking off from small, unprepared sites. A machine with such dimensions and carrying capacity was highly anticipated in remote regions of the country, in places where mining was carried out, which could only be reached by air.

Final assembly shop for Mi-8 helicopters, Ulan-Ude, 1993

Image source: © Vladimir Matvievsky/TASS

In 1968, the military modification of the Mi-8 was adopted. The first combat helicopters were intended for transporting personnel and weapons, landing marine units, evacuating the wounded, fire support, suppressing enemy firing points, and jamming. Over time, the use of the Mi-8 in the armed forces expanded, mining helicopters, flying workshops, tankers and even amphibians appeared.

In total, about 100 modifications of this universal machine have been produced since the 1960s. Today, the legendary G8s can be seen all over the world - the helicopter has been supplied to more than 80 countries. The design of the Mi-8 turned out to be so successful that the production and improvement of the helicopter has not stopped to this day.

Mi-8 crashes in peacetime

Analyzing disasters and accidents on the Mi-8 that occurred outside of combat operations, we can state that the main flight accidents occurred: due to the human factor - 41.5%; aircraft failure – 37.7%; bad weather conditions – 7%; for other reasons – 14%.

Here is the most typical disaster due to the human factor. While flying over the city of Grozny on March 10, 2005 in the Chechen People's Republic, an Mi-8 caught on a high-voltage power line. 15 people died, one managed to survive.

Here is another similar, but more resonant catastrophe. On April 28, 2002, near the village of Ermaki, in poor visibility conditions, the Mi-8 crashed into a power line. On board was the Governor of the Krasnoyarsk Territory Alexander Lebed and his inner circle. Together with the head of the region, 9 people died.

Mi-8

The case of human negligence is confirmed by the following disaster. During the flight from Surgut to Lyantor on August 30, 2001, a cable that fell out of the open door of the Mi-8 hit the tail rotor area and was thrown into the main rotor. The car became uncontrollable, overturned and crashed into the swamp. Five people died.

In such cases, as they say, comments are unnecessary.

Mi-8MTV-5M

At the end of August, the Kazan Helicopter was visited by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was shown a modernized version of the Mi-8MTV-5-1 military transport helicopter, which is in service with the Russian army.

Military transport helicopter Mi-8MTV-5-1, on the basis of which the Mi-8MTV-5M was created

Image source: © Donat Sorokin/TASS

Mi-8MTV-5-1 has been supplied to Russian security forces since 2011. According to Rostec, it is designed for a wide range of tasks, including transporting cargo up to 4 tons and participating in search and rescue operations. One of the main differences of the Mi-8MTV-5-1 is that the helicopter can navigate perfectly even in complete darkness. The cockpit is equipped with lighting equipment, which, in combination with night vision goggles, allows you to fly in the dark at extremely low altitudes, take off and land on unprepared sites.

Among the design features of the Mi-8MTV-5-1 fuselage is an extended left door. Instead of standard doors that are folded manually, there is a ramp that opens using a hydraulic drive, which significantly reduces the time it takes to prepare the helicopter for loading and unloading.

The new version, the Mi-8MTV-5M, which was shown to the Minister of Defense, received the most modern on-board equipment: a multifunctional display, a digital autopilot, a modern communications complex and a domestically produced TA-14 auxiliary power unit.

The Mi-8MTV-5M is also capable of performing night flights using night vision goggles, and its navigation and weather control systems are integrated into a single information field. The modern complex of communications equipment is unified with all helicopters supplied in the interests of the Russian Ministry of Defense and provides the function of data exchange between machines. Mi-8MTV-5-1 helicopters in service can be modified to look like a modernized Mi-8MTV-5M.

Future plans for the modernization of Mi-8/17 series helicopters for military transport versions supplied to various customers include improving flight performance through the use of a new load-bearing system. The vehicles will be equipped with Mi-38 helicopter blades and an X-shaped tail rotor. At the stage of designing blades for the Mi-38, they were tested on the “eight”. Thus, this technical solution has already been tested and will be introduced into the series. Alexey Belykh, Managing Director of the Kazan Helicopter Plant

YAKEDCHYKHL Bufmshl Schruyunl Londepmhghuzhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhs 117ble gYu DBYu Tsyudyu B nya lHKYANGDYUKH MNBSC AYUGNBSC LNDEKE lH-8lrb

(
lH-17-1b
SHYYAONPRMNL BYUPKHUMRE), YAONYANAMSCCH BGKERYURE KH YAYUDHREYA MU BSHYANRYU DN 4000 L KH KERYURE MU BSHYANRYU DN 6000 L. yPNLE ONRNKYNB, BNGPNYAKH YAYNPNONDZELMNYARE, DUKEMNYARE KH R. D. mNBYU AYUGNBU LNDEKE NRKHVYUKYUYAE YANBPELEMMSHL NANPSDNBYUMHEL, BYKCHVYUCHYHL LERENPYUDKHNKNYUZHNMMSC YARYUMZHCH X PUDHNYARYUMZHCH DUKEMEY MYUBKHTSYUZHKH, KHLKYU APNMHPNBYUMKHE, OPNREIRKHPPNBUMMSHE AYUYKH I OEMNONKHSPERYUMNBSHL GUONKMHREKEL, MNYANBNI X YNPLNBNI OSKELERSH OIR, LEYARE ONDBEYAM SHU AYUKNVMSHU DEPFYUREKEY H ІБНПМЭБШЭ SYАРИУМНБИХ OND NPSFHE DEYUMRMKHYNB.

I SVERNL "YUTTSYUMYAYNTSN" NOSHRYU ONBSHYAHKH FHBSVEYARE VYUYAREI X YUTSPETSYURNB BEPRNKERYU, YU DK AEGNOYUMNYARH SHYAOXYURYUZHKH MU lH-8lrb SYARYUMNBHKH PUGPYUANRYUMMSCH YANBLEYAR MN I TPYUMZHSGYAYHLH THPLYULH YAHYARELS YUBYUPKHIMNTSN OPHBNDMEMKH. I 1988-TSN MYUVYUKNYAE NYABNEMKHE YAEPKHIMNTSN OPNKHGBNDYARBYU lH-8lrb (lH-8lrb-1) B yUGYUMH. aYUGNBSCH LNDEKE LNFMN HYAONKEGNBURE B RPYUMYAONPRMNL, DEYYUMRMNL, DEYYUMRMN-jRSPLNBNL, YAYUMHRYUPMNL, OPETSNMNVMNL BYUPKHYUMRYU, YU RUYFE B BYUPHYUMRYU BEPRNKERYU NC MEBNI ONDDEPPHYKH ONYARYUMNBYKHYU LHM.

mu GYUBNDE B sKYUM-sDSCH lH-8lrb ONYEK B YAEPHCH B 1991-L I MEANKEHLH HGLEMEMHLH B NANPSDNBYUMHH OND NANGMYUVEMHEL lH-8Yulr (SHYYAONPRMSHI LHTP - lH-171). sKYUM-SDSHMYAYKHE BEPRNKERNYARPNHREKH ONYARPNHKH SFE MEYAYNKEIN YANREM RÜYKHU LYUHM. b 1997-L lH-171 B pNYAYAHH ONKSVKHK YAEPRKHTHYYUR RHOYU, YU DBYU TSNDYU YAOSYAR - YAEPRHTHTHYYUR RHOYU B yKHRYUE ON YLEPHYUMYAYHL MNPLLYUL FAR-29 B OYUYAYUFKHPYAYNL X TsPSGNBNL BYUPKHYU MRYU DK ONKERYU MYUD YASYEI X BNDMNI ONBEPUMNYARECH.

BYAKED GYU lH-8lrb-1 B 1990s MU YUGYUMYAINL GYUBNDE ONYAKEDNBYUKH AYUGNBSHE LNDKHTHYUZHHH lH-8lrb-2 X lH-8lrb-3. b HU YYUAHME PYUGLEYUKNYAE DAY 30 DAYUMRMKHYNB. schRKH LYUKHMSH KHLEKH SYAKHKEMMNE APNMHPNBYUMKHE, LNDEPMHGKHPNBYUMMSHE YAKHYARELSH. MU lH-8lrb-3 HG EYARKH AYUKNVMSHU DEPFYUREKEY NYARYUKNYAE RNKEIN VERSHPE, MN OPH SCHRNL VHYAKN BNGLNFMSHU BYUPKHYUMRNB ONDBEYAYKH BNNPSFEMKH SBEKHVHKNYAE I 8 DN 24. bePRNKERSH ONKSVKHKH PSKEBNI BCMR I SBEKKHVEMMNI UNPDNI KNOYUYAREI KH ONBSHYEMMNI FEYARYNYARECH OPNBNDYKH SOPYUBKEMKH, YAKHYARELS AEYAOYUPYUCHRMNTSN DEYUMRKHPPNBYUMKH X ANPRNBSCH YARPEKS ANKEYEI TsPSGNONDZELMNYARKH .

lH-8lrb-3 B 1991-L ONYAKSFKHK OPNRNRHONL DK ShYYAONPRMNI LNDHTHYUZHHH lH-172, OPNYEDYEI B 1994-L YAEPRHTHYUZHCH B KHMDHYAYNL YUBKHYUPETSKHYARPE ON YLEPHYUMYAYHL M NPLUL FAR-29. BYAE SYANBEPEMYARBNBUMMKH, NOPNANBYUMMSHE MU SHCHRKHU LNDKHTHYUZHKHU, B 1992-L BMEDPHKH X MU MNBNI DELNMYARPUZHNMMNI LNDEKH lH-17l. yPNLE RNCN, MU MEI SYARYUMNBHKH LEFDSMYUPNDMSCH MYUBKHTSYUZHNMMSCH YAHYARELS KH SYANBEPEMYARBNBYUMMSCH pkya, SBEKHVHKH ANINBSHE DBEPKH, YU GYUDMKHI TsPSGNBNI KCHY OPEDEKYUKH ON R HOS lH-26 (YAN YARBNPYULH SLEMEEMMNTSN PUGLEPYU KH NOSYAYUCHYKHLYA RPYUONL-YOOYUPEKECH). ANKENI KCHY B ONKS ONGBNKKHK SYARYUMNBHRE YAHYARELS BMEMEI ONDBEYAYKH TsPSGNONDZELMNYARECH 5 RUB.

schryu DELNMYARPYUZHNMMYU LNDEKE ONYAKSFHKYU NYAMNBNI DK YANGDYUMH B 1997-L lH-8lrb-5 (lH-17ld), ONKEGSCHIEYYYA ANKEHL SIAOEUNL MU LEFDSMYUPNDMNL YUBHYUZHNMMNL P SHMYE. ON DNTsNBNPS I YUMYUDYAYNI THPLNI YUGYUMYAYHLH BEPRNKERNYARPNHREKILH RUYFE OPNPYUAYURSHBUERYA YANBLEYARMYU LNDKHTTHYUZHKH lH-17yt. b 1998-L DNPYUANRYUMMSHE BYUPKHYUMRSH lH-171 X lH-172 ONKSVHKH NREVEYARBEMMSHY YAEPRHTHYUR RHOYU ON YLEPHYUMYAYHL MNPLYUL FAR-29. xL OPHYABNEMSH NANGMYUVEMHЪ lH-171yu X lH-172yu.

ONYAKE PUGBYUKYYAYAP SHYHOYUFH lH-8 OPNDNKFYUCHR HYAOYUBMN BSHONKMRE YABNI MEKETSYKHI BNKHMYAIKHI DNATS B TsNPVKHU RNVIYUU pNYYAHH X yamts. “bNYAELEPYKH” BHPNYN HYAONKEGNBUKHYAE BN BPEL YNMTKHYRNB B mYUTsNPMNL yUPYUAYUUE, B yuAUYUGXX X B rYUDFHYHYARYUME. sMHYUKEMSHE BSHYANRMSHE UYUPYUREPHYARKHYH lH-8lrb YADEKYUKH HU MEGULEMHLSHLH B BSHYANYNTsNPMSHU PYYINMYUU. RNKAIN NMH LNTsSR NAEYAOEVHRE ANEBSHE DEYARBHJ MU BSHIANRYU YABSHYE 3500-4000 L.

nMH BHPNYN HYAONKEGNBYUKHYAE BN BPEL YNMRPREPNPKHYARKHVEYAYKHU NOEPYUZHHI B VEVEME.
b 1995-L GDEYAE DEYARBNBUKH MEYAINKEIN SHYAYYUDPHKHI lH-8, YNRNPSHE HYAONKEGNBYUKHYAE OPEHLSYYARBEMMN DK OEPEAPNYAYH KHVMNTsN YANYARYUBYU, ETSN GYULEMSH MU ONGKHZH Kommersant, ONDBNGYU ANEOKHOYUYANB X OPNDNBNKEYARBKH, BSHBNGYU PYUMEMESHU X ANKEMSHU, YU RUYFE SHBYUYUSHKH AEFEMZHEB X NYUGYUMKH BIAEYARNPNMMEY TSSLUMKHRYUPMNI ONLNYH MUYAYEKEMKHCH. cru:

lNDHTHYUZHH	lH-8lrb
dHYULERP TSKYUBMNTSN BKHMRYU, L	21.30
dHYULERP UBNYARNBNTSN BKHMRYU, L	3.91
dKHMYu,L	18.42
bSHYANRYU,L	5.34
I love it, JC
OSYARNCN	7381
MNPLYUKEMYU BGKERMYU	11100
LYUYAHLYUKEMYU BGKERMYU	13000
RHO DBKHTSUREK	2 tsrd yKHLNB rb3-117bl
lnymnyare, YbR	2 U 1639
LYUYAKHLYUKEMYU YAYNPNYARE, YL/V	250
yPEIYEPYAYU YAYNPNYARE, YL/V	230
oPUYRHVEYAYU DUKEMNYARE, YL	500
YAYNPNONDZELMNYARE, L/LHM	540
oPUYIRKHVEYAYKHI ONRNNKNY, L	6000
YaRYURKHVEYAYKHI ONRNNKNY, L	3980
ShYKHOYUF, VEK	2-3
ONKEGMYU MYUTSPSGYU:	DN 24 OYUYAYUFKHPNB KKH 12 MYAHKNYI YANOPNBNFDYUCHIHLH KKH 4000 YTS TsPSGYU B YUAHME KKH 4000 YTS MU ONDBEYAYE

bottom. KhMTNPLYUZHKH:

tNRNCPYUTHH:	nDHM HG OEPBSHU lH-8lrb (c) Egor
lH-8lrb-1 (I) bYUDHL
lH-8lrb-1 (I) chPHI bKYUDHLKHPNBHV
lH-8lrb-2 (c) bYUDHL
lH-8lrb-2 (c) yuMRNM oERPNB
lH-8lrb-2 (c) yuKEYAEI kHRBKHMNB
lH-8lrb-2 (c) yuMYURNKHI asPZHEB

YaOHYANY HYARNVMKHYNB:

bYUDHL lHUEEB. lH-8 - 40 KER B YARPNCH yPSHKE pNDHMSH. b. ePLNKUEB b. bEPRNKER lH-8 ipShKE pNDHMSH. mHYNKYUY BYYAKHKEEB. MEYARYUPECHIKHE "BNYAELEPYKH" yPSHKEЪ pNDHMSH. bYUDHL lHUEEB. lMNTSNZHEKEBNI BHMRNYPSHK XXI BEYU bYUDHL lHUEEB. lbg HL. l.k.lHKЪ 50 KER e.h.pSFHZHYHI. bEPRNKERSH Russianplanes.net. lHKE lH-8lrb

sTSNKNY MEAYU. 2018

Arctic G8

Serial production of the Arctic aircraft - Mi-8AMTSH-VA - began in 2015 at the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant (U-UAZ, part of the Russian Helicopters holding company).

The frost-resistant helicopter was created specifically for the Arctic and the Far North. Among the main features of the design is a unique heating system for the units, thanks to which even at -60 °C the helicopter engines start with half a turn. The Mi-8AMTSH-VA is also equipped with improved thermal insulation of the fuselage.

Arctic helicopter Mi-8AMTSH-VA

The vehicle can fly over long distances (up to 1,400 km) thanks to external additional fuel tanks. For the safety of the crew and passengers, special marine rescue suits are placed on board.

Helicopters of this modification have already flown several thousand hours in the Arctic and have proven themselves to be excellent in harsh northern conditions. A unique heating system for transmission units allows the helicopter to quickly start the engines even in the most severe frost, which is extremely important for organizing emergency rescue flights Alexey Kozlov, Managing Director of the Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant

At the last Eastern Economic Forum, the first agreement was signed for the supply of four Arctic helicopters to the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations. “This agreement is important for the development of the security system in the Arctic zone. Such helicopters are indispensable when extinguishing natural fires; they can perform sanitary evacuation and deliver rescuers to hard-to-reach areas. They are designed to operate in northern latitudes, characterized by low temperatures and high wind loads. The new helicopters will go into service with the newly created Arctic units of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations to protect the population and territories of the Arctic region of the Russian Federation and ensure the security of the Northern Sea Route,” said Deputy Head of the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations Viktor Yatsutsenko.

Assault commando

Transport and landing operations, fire support, supporting the actions of special forces - this is just an incomplete list of what the new military transport helicopter Mi-8AMTSh-VN can do.

Military transport helicopter Mi-8AMTSH-VN

The vehicle was developed on the basis of the Mi-8AMTSh, known under the formidable name “Terminator”. A prototype of this type was first demonstrated to the general public at the MAKS-2017 exhibition.

According to the manufacturer, thanks to the on-board defense complex, titanium and Kevlar armor, the helicopter received increased combat survivability and security. The armor covers not only the crew and the most important components of the helicopter, but also the cargo compartment with paratroopers. To make it easier for them to disembark, the Mi-8AMTSh is equipped with two sliding doors and additional hatches.

On board the vehicle are 12.7 mm machine guns, unguided rockets, bombs of various calibers, as well as a complex of guided missiles with a surveillance and sighting system, which allows you to fight air and ground targets, destroy enemy firing points and armored vehicles.

The helicopter's new rotor system is based on an improved propeller with all-composite blades of a modern aerodynamic design. Its use in combination with more powerful engines made it possible to increase maneuverability, flight speed, and obtain new characteristics when operating in high mountains and hot climates. Another important feature of the Mi-8AMTSh-VN is the more efficient X-shaped tail rotor.

The helicopter is equipped with a gyro-stabilized optical-electronic system, complemented by a search light with an infrared spectrum, dual-band lighting equipment and adapted for the use of night vision goggles. Many combat missions can be carried out automatically thanks to the integrated flight navigation system and digital autopilot. During the flight, it reduces the load on the crew.

Technical characteristics of the MI-8 helicopter

Required crew: 3 people.
Maximum flight speed: 250 km/h.
Maximum flight altitude: 4700 m.
Maximum transport flight range: 445 km.
Maximum passenger flight range: 500 km.
Helicopter weight: 6600 kg.
Maximum suspended load weight: 3000 kg.
Fuel weight: 2800 kg.
Helicopter length: 25.24 m.
Engine: 2 x TV2-117A
Maximum engine power: 1700 hp.
Fuel consumption: 0.680 t/hour.

A new “heart” for a civilian vehicle

The Mi-171A2 multi-purpose helicopter is one of the most modern modifications of the Mi-8/17 type helicopters, the result of a deep modernization of the Mi-171A1 civilian model certified abroad. The support system with transmission, electronic components and the “heart” of the car - the engine - have received updates.

Multi-purpose helicopter Mi-171A2

The VK-2500 turboshaft engine was developed by the United Engine Corporation (UEC) as part of the import substitution program. The unit replaced the Ukrainian TV3-117, which was equipped with later series Mi-8/17 helicopters. Today, the Mi-171A2 is equipped with engines of the latest modification VK-2500PS-03 - a civilian version of the engines used on the Mi-28N combat attack helicopters.

The main differences of the new engine are a modern Russian electronic automatic control system and anti-surge protection. The BARK-78 automatic control and control unit, developed by UEC-Klimov, made it possible to increase engine power in emergency mode, ensure the maintenance of modes in a wider range of outside temperatures, and increase resources and fuel efficiency indicators.

As the developers note, rotorcraft with such engines are reliably protected from power plant failure, which can occur due to powerful air flows or a strong decrease in pressure in hot climates and in high mountain areas.

The Mi-171A2's avionics system was also modernized. The use of the KBO-17 digital complex from the Radioelectronic Technologies concern, created on the principle of a “glass cockpit” with a flight navigation system and video cameras, improved visibility when working with an external sling. In addition, the helicopter uses modern systems to prevent collisions with the ground, other aircraft and obstacles.

“Rostec is currently working to expand the characteristics of the Mi-171A2 helicopter in terms of the ability to take off, land and transport passengers in mountainous terrain at altitudes of up to 5,000 meters above sea level,” Vladimir Artyakov, First Deputy General Director of Rostec, told TASS. — A set of individual oxygen equipment will be installed for each passenger and flight attendant. Testing with subsequent approval by Rosaviation of the main change to the helicopter certificate is planned for 2022, after which the procedure for validating this option will be carried out by the aviation authorities of India and other countries.”