Mil Mi-8 | |
---|---|
Mil Mi-8 of Baltic Airlines taking off at Peter and Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg | |
Role | Transport helicopter (also several armed versions) |
National origin | Soviet Union/Russia |
Manufacturer | Kazan Helicopter Plant Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant |
Design group | Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant |
First flight | 7 July 1961 |
Introduction | 1967 |
Status | In service |
Primary users |
ca. 80 other countries, see Operators below |
Produced | 1961–present |
Number built | >17,000 and production continues today; world's most-produced helicopter |
Variants | Mil Mi-8M/Mi-17 |
Developed into |
The Mil Mi-8 (Russian: Ми-8, NATO reporting name: Hip) is a medium twin-turbine helicopter, originally designed by the Soviet Union in the 1960s and introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1968. It is now produced by Russia.[not verified in body] In addition to its most common role as a transport helicopter, the Mi-8 is also used as an airborne command post, armed gunship, and reconnaissance platform.
The Mi-8 is the world's most-produced helicopter,[1] with over 17000 units used by over 50 countries. As of 2015, when combined with the related Mil Mi-17, the two helicopters are the third most common operational military aircraft in the world.[2]
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