Mil Mi-8
The Mil Mi-8 is among the most-produced helicopters in history, serving as the backbone of civil and military helicopter fleets across Russia, China, and much of the developing world since the 1960s. Its rugged, simple design and enormous cabin let it carry troops, cargo, or up to two dozen passengers, and it remains a common sight ferrying workers to remote oil and gas sites across Siberia. Countless variants exist, from armed gunships to VIP transports to firefighting tankers, all built on the same proven five-blade rotor system. Despite its age, it remains in active production today in updated Mi-17 form.
Did you know?
Its engines sit in an oval fairing above the cabin roof, driving a mast-mounted five-blade rotor — the classic 'Hip' silhouette.
Specifications
| Length | 18.2 m (60 ft) |
|---|---|
| Height | 5.7 m (19 ft) |
| Rotor diameter | 21.3 m (70 ft) |
| Maximum passengers | 24 |
| Persons on board | 38 |
| Maximum take-off weight | 13 t |
| Range | 250 NM (463 km) |
| Maximum speed | 140 kt (259 km/h) |
| Service ceiling | 14,760 ft (4,499 m) |
| Optimum ceiling | 9,000 ft (2,743 m) |
| Rate of climb | 1,772 ft/min (9 m/s) |
| Fuel capacity | 2,700 l |
| Engines | 2x Klimov TV3-117 |
| Units built | 17,000 |
Curated by CatchFlights from manufacturer documents, ICAO Doc 8643 and reference works; values are left out where no source could confirm them. Sources are listed on our credits page.
In CatchFlights
In CatchFlights the Mil Mi-8 starts as a Very rare catch. The tier is an editorial judgement of how special a sighting of this type is. The more often you catch it, the closer it moves to Common for you.
A catch counts for the manufacturer Mil, the Mi-8 family and the model in your collection, and the daily Type Rating quiz asks about the types of each family.
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