Mil Mi-8, Mi-14, Mi-17 & Mi-171 family
Chances of seeing a variant of this helicopter are statistically quite big, because there is no other helicopter than the Mi-8 family that was produced in such large numbers. And it is still in production, despite its replacement has arrived (the Mi-38).
Most versions of the Mi-8, NATO reporting name Hip, have a rounded fuselage, especially the rear of it. The rear fuselage can be opened in two clamshell doors, although versions some have a rear loading ramp that sharply slopes up under the tail boom. This tail boom has a circular cross section. At the end it diagonally points up, holding an open tail rotor. There are simple horizontal stabilisers on both sides, at the end of the horizontal part of the tail boom. On top of the fuselage, in front of the gear box assembly, are two turboshaft engines. The Mi-8 normally has a fixed landing gear, with a two wheel nose gear and single wheel main landing gears. The latter are attached with struts to the bottom and side of the fuselage. Only the Mi-14 has a retractable, four leg gear.
Different versions
The different versions of the Mi-8 family can externally be distinguish by (among others)
- the shape of the cabin windows
- the location of the tail rotor
- the shape of the tail rotor
- the number of tail rotor blades
- the shape of the nose
- the shape of the rear fuselage (rounded or loading ramp)
- the shape of the bottom of the fuselage
- the number of landing gear legs
- the shape of the dust covers of the air intakes
- the shape of the gear box/engine hub
More details will follow later.
Confusion possible with
Mil Mi-38
The Mi-38 is intended as the successor of the Mi-8 family. It looks especially like Mi-8 versions with a 'dolphin nose', as the Mi-38 has a similar one. The Mi-38 has a longer fuselage and shorter tail boom. The tail rotor has a 'scissor' type, four blade tail rotor (unequal angles between the blades), while most Mi-8 versions have a three blade one. Moreover, the horizontal stabilisers are placed at the end of the tail boom. Additionally, the main landing gear struts are shorter and attached to the lower side of the fuselage only. Finally, the engines are located at the sides of the gear box.
Mil Mi-4
The Mi-4 is formed the basis for the Mi-8, which can in particular be seen in the rounded (aft) fuselage, tail boom and rear fixed main landing gear. The Mi-4 has a higher placed cockpit though, and the engine is in the nose. Finally, all variants have two front gears.
Sikorsky S-61R/HH-3
This derivative of the S-61/Sea King has more in common with the Mi-14 than other members of the Mi-8 family, because the Sikorsky has a boat shape as well and two engines on top of the fuselage, in front of the main rotor mast. The Sikorsky also has sponsons and an all two wheel retractable gear, but a single nose nose gear. The S-61R and CH-3/HH-3 variants have a five blade tail rotor on the left and a high mounted horizontal stabiliser on the right.