Versatile upgrading of Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters to meet the needs of operating companies

Mi-8 helicopter, developed in 1961, has built up indisputably excellent reputation during its operation period. It has been achieved due to very successful design, high aircraft performance characteristics and reliability as well as very competitive prices in comparison with its similar foreign type models.
Mi-8 helicopter has become the most popular helicopter in the world class of rotor wing aircraft with weight-lifting capacity of 4 tons. About 12 thousand vehicles of this type have been manufactured and at present its production still continues.

The helicopter has been repeatedly modernized resulting in the improvement of its performance characteristics. On the Mi-8 helicopter design basis Mi-14 amphibian helicopter was created powered with a new (at that time) engine TV3-117 and enforced transmission, which later on were applied on Mi-8MT (MTV) helicopters.P>

The upgraded version of the helicopter powered with TV3-117MT engines is Mi-8MT multi-purpose helicopter, which export version received the name of Mi-17.
Up to date a wide range of mission helicopters has been developed, namely over 100 modifications. At present Mi-8MTV helicopter undergoes overall modification including application of the upgraded Power Plant, main rotor and electronic equipment.

Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant, JSC, as the Designer of “Mi” brand helicopters offers the complex of the works for fitting the additional equipment (domestic and foreign made) on Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters in particular to accomplish peacemaking UNO missions with formalizing the corresponding operation permissive documentation.

The following equipment is offered for additional fitting:
- night vision goggles with adaptation to flight engineering equipment and in-cockpit environment,
- complex flight, navigation and electronic display equipment with multifunctional displays (MFD),
- round-the-clock operating observation system.
At present Mi-17N helicopter is successfully operated, boasting the following useful particulars:

• day-and-night operation with capability to fly at small heights over plains and mountain areas.
• high-precision navigation;
• fulfilling the flight route with being led to the flight objective in the preset area, according to its exact place and time along the preset route;
• detecting and identifying small scale objects such as a car, separately located building at the distance of 2,5 – 6 km
• round-the-clock performance of reconnaissance and accomplishment of SAR missions for perfect determining of the coordinates of the objects and automatic transferring of the data to the ground control station;
• independent searching and landing at night time on not illuminated and unmarked sites with landing lights off and evacuation of the sick and the wounded;
• day-and-night use of all helicopter standard weapons;
• increasing accuracy of application of the helicopter standard weapons owing to application of laser range finder and automatic input of corrections;
• landing of the troops on a random ground.
  

All Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters can be additionally fitted with vibration dampers. At present fiber glass blades of main and tail rotors with new aerodynamics as well as corresponding lubed-for-life hubs are being developed.

Fuselage, power plant and transmission components of Mi-8/Mi-17 helicopters are intended to undergo upgrading during which at the request of the customer the helicopter can be fitted with the following:

• enforced tail transmission gear, providing for life extension and improved steering capabilities. Modernization of transmission gear enhances the capabilities of the helicopter operated in high lands.
• TV3-117MT engines are replaced by VK-2500 or TV3-117VM engines;
• auxiliary Power Unit (APU) TA-14 or “Sapphire” featuring better altitude characteristics (can be started at the height of 6000 m.) is to replace AI-9. Electric generators of the augmented capacity and substantially increased operational time of APU provide for power supply of the electric equipment on the ground (air conditioners, domestic appliances and special equipment);
• VIP cabin of different types with air conditioning of the cockpit and passenger cabin;