Afghanistan VIDEO: one-engine-out Mi-8 hot-and-high climb out....

[Stratofreighter]

"http://www.liveleak.com/ll_embed?f=52a001535498"

LiveLeak.com - Russian Helicopters Risky Takeoff




"This is a Russian MI8-MTV variant that made deliveries to forward operating bases and LP,OP's in Afghanistan.

The helicopter had lost the ability to use one of its two engines.
The helicopter could not stay in this location as it was too dangerous.

Keeping it at that location for more than a few hours was NOT an option.
If nighttime had come it would have been destroyed by local Taliban.
So the pilot decided to have his crew take everything out of the aircraft that wasn't bolted down and try to fly it on it single working engine by himself.

Typical crew is 3 (Pilot Co-pilot Flight Engineer).
The pilot only wanted to risk himself to get the helicopter out to another more secure base for repairs.
He had a small fence to hop it over and a bit of space to pick up some airspeed."

[ShyTorque]

Had to do that once, from an offshore island but we had to carry out a running takeoff to get flying speed.

[hueyracer]

Doesn´t look like an OEI take off to me….

If it was-it looks like a weird decision to turn like that...

[oldpinger]

Not 100% sure with Russian aircraft but if it's like Eurocopters from memory a turn to the left would be using less power due to tail rotor thrust requirements. Prepared to be shot down by aerodynamicists! He also seems to be using what little downslope there is to 'dive' on some speed

[311kph]

It almost makes sense - if he is taking off from minefield!


:):*

[hueyracer]

The MI-8 main rotor turns clockwise..should be the other way round, then…...

[chopjock]

The MI-8 main rotor turns clockwise..should be the other way round, then…...

?
No, left pedal on a clockwise rotor would unload the tail rotor and help to get unstuck.

[[email protected]]

He had enough power to lift to the hover - clearly not that power limited, he didn't seem to bother with a cushion creep. As for using the terrain, that might have been a tactical consideration.

[Peter-RB]

Seems like he achieved what he wanted to do, so good thinking , could have become a "Hero of the Supreme Soviet" for saving his kit.!