Not so dodgy manufacture - it's got a good reputation for sturdy reliability, I hear (but waddo I know ???). What an eeeenteresting set of shots, though - food for thought, eh ? Quick way for Mr. Brown to get more helicopters to our forces in the sand ??? If he can't get them from the US, why not from "elsewhere" ?
I suspect if Gordo produced a dozen of those for Afghanistan they'd achieve more work with better reliability, no mods required and vastly less maintenance than the ones we have now.
Location: Italy & Cornwall in equal measure - usually
Posts: 853
Mi 17 ????????
Great workhorses but not very sophisticated. Flew an Mi 8 Sim once - basic!!! Built to be dug out of a snow bank and started with internal battery. Unfortunately the port-hole windows are too small for escape and there is just one emergency hatch on the right hand side. Roll on to the left side with 20 pax and you have a tough job getting out alive. The external tanks mean they burn well.
One nice set from our side, Island Hvar, Croatia two days ago http://helifor.eu/heliblog Posted on: 27.08.2009. no 331. secondary medicine flight in 2009. Hvar, Smokovnik/Rudine helipad Hvar[/b] Hats down to crew and supporting team for only avaialble "HEMS" in 9A
Yeah, but those blades performs better all around the world, on 1/3 price than for examp. Merlins (AW101) and please remember they are not in Salisbury Plain just for picnic
There is quite a difference between a Mi-8T built some 40 years ago and a Mi-8MTV-5, so when talking about how bad or how good is a Mi-8/Mi-17, there is always a question, which one are we talking about.
Dear Arrakis not much and in this case this can be assumed like advantage .... and on my above pictures is Mi8 MTV-1 YOP 1992. (no turbine dust separators can lead you in wrong direction )
If you ask my people Mi 8T is more pleasant to fly and much less vibrations on cyclic.
Recent Mi8 MTV modernization by Kazan as seen on MAKS 2009. SAR version with life support, 300 kg hoist and glass cockpit with thermal cameras integrated in system.
Dear Arrakis not much and in this case this can be assumed like advantage ....
Could you be a little more specific? Personally, I have to disagree. There are some major differences, starting in the engine department, when you compare to the old TV2s and quite a choice of avionics, comparing to the old "Ts". Larger doors, and on both sides, if you need it, etc.. A few things won't change, like crashworthiness, but - ce la vie.
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If you ask my people Mi 8T is more pleasant to fly and much less vibrations on cyclic.
Dear Arrakis not much difference as basic flight model is the same and in this case this can be assumed like advantage like proven model for all weather all climates -40 / +50 C degrees operative.
Few doors, windows and ramp instead clamshell doors makes no much difference except during emergency. And these main rotor blades are best proven blades in the world....
One recent story from South America is that "modern" Mi35 (upgraded 24 V) with state of the art composite blades can fly only before 8h in the morning after that sun is to strong, temp is up and blades are to low (Icarus efect )
yea...it's like saying not much difference between an UH-60A and an UH-60M, both being the same basic model.
I can assure you, that switching from a TV2-117 giving something like 1000 hp continous /1500 hp max power, to VK-2500 giving up to 1750 hp continous / 2700 hp max. makes quite a difference, especially in nice places like A'stan. Unless for you "difference" would mean something like a NH90 or S-92.
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One recent story from South America is that "modern" Mi35 (upgraded 24 V) with state of the art composite blades can fly only before 8h in the morning after that sun is to strong, temp is up and blades are to low (Icarus efect )
Location: UK, Oregon/US and soon OZtraileeyaaah baby
Age: 30
Posts: 754
Never thought I'd say that, but this newer version of Mi-8 (in navy colours, above) with all the mods make it look less ugly - that's before seeing the glass cockpit and other gadgets inside.
I remember being kid and occasionally seeing them flying past, either Mi-2 or this one. First thought - 'Wow, helicopter' followed by 'What an ugly machine' and went on daydreaming about Jetrangers. I wouldn't say no to fly either of them as long as it's properly maintained.
Those later pictures are amazing to see the transformation from how it looked it its earlier guise, nice cockpit and with TI as well, maybe an ideal replacement for West Mids Police EC-135P2 Which I believe burnt very quickly even without external fuel tanks....
Dodgy ???
)
yea...it's like saying not much difference between an UH-60A and an UH-60M, both being the same basic model.
