| Mil Mi-8 (Hip) |
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The Mi-8 was developed as a larger version of the Mil Mi-4 "Hound" and the prototype first flew in 1961. The original prototype was a single engine
aircraft with a four-blade main rotor. The second prototype flew in 1962 with the twin engine layout that was to become standard for the Mi-8. The
design was further improved in 1964 with the change to a five-bladed main rotor. This was the the version that went into production and the standard
medium helicopter for the USSR and allies in 1967-68. Mi-8's are still in widespread use today the world over in both military and civilian service.
aircraft with a four-blade main rotor. The second prototype flew in 1962 with the twin engine layout that was to become standard for the Mi-8. The
design was further improved in 1964 with the change to a five-bladed main rotor. This was the the version that went into production and the standard
medium helicopter for the USSR and allies in 1967-68. Mi-8's are still in widespread use today the world over in both military and civilian service.
Above and below: This civil Aeroflot Mi-8 was photographed in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg) in
1991.
1991.
The orange color of this Mi-8 indicates it is part of Aeroflot's Arctic
fleet.
fleet.
| This military Mi-8 awaits its next mission at a small airfield near Moscow, 1991. |
| The series of photographs below are of Ukrainian Mi-8's operating in Kosovo during 1999 - 2000. While there, I observed Aircraft numbers "41" through "44" but "43" must have been the workhorse of the fleet as I saw it far more than the others. I rode in "43" as well as the orange Aeroflot Mi-8 at the top of this page. |
