The I.A.F.’s requirement for a heavier transport helicopter resulted in the evaluation .1 of the Soviet Mi-8 in the jungle-mountain terrain of the North East Frontier Agency during mid-1969. Following the successful trials, orders were placed for sufficient Mi-8s to equip two Helicopter Units and the first Mi-8 was delivered on 18th December 1971 after being put together at Santa Cruz from assemblies received by sea.
In the difficult and rugged mountain areas of Northern and N.E. India, the sturdy Mi-8 is especially useful as it can carry as many troops (28) or as much freight (26,000 lb.) as the Dakota but in the V/STOL mode at terrain heights of upto 12/15,000 feet (3,650/4,570 m.). Its rear clamshell doors permit a jeep or field gun to be stowed within the capacious fuselage. As a “flying crane”, a controllable winch and underside cargo hook for lifting sling loads of upto 5,500 lb. (2,500 kg.) is fitted and the Mi-8 can be especially useful for lifting artillery weapons and supporting equipment over river and other natural obstacles. The military version, in service with the I.A.F., differs from the commercial version in having circular cabin windows and twin weapon-carriers on outriggers.
In June 1972, Mi-8s transported Pakistani President Z.A. Bhutto and his party from Chandigarh to Annandale, Simla for the historic Simla Summit meeting. Mi-8s of No.118 H.U. were pressed into service for flood relief duties in North India during August 1973.
Notes :
Derived from the piston-engined Mi-4, and supplementing this type, the Mi-8 is, in overall dimensions, not much larger but can accommodate twice as many troops or freight and can be utilized for the assault role, transportation and casualty evacuation, the aeromedical version accommodating 12 casualty stretchers. Development of the Mi-8 was initiated in 1961, first powered by a single 2,700 s.h.p. Soloviev turboshaft driving a four blade rotor, this engine being supplanted by a pair of Izotov TB-2-117A turboshafts each of 1,500 s.h.p. with a five-blade rotor. In continuous production since 1964, the Mi-8 has been supplied to several countries for both military and civil tasks as an economic general-purpose transport.
| Country of origin | U.S.S.R. |
| Performance | Max. speed 155 m.p.h. (249 km./hr.) |
| Hovering ceiling (i.g.e.) 5,900 ft. (1,799 m.) | |
| (o.g.e.) 2,625 ft. (800 m.) | |
| Service ceiling 15,000 ft. (4,572 m.) | |
| Range (with 6,615 lb. (3,003 kg.) load) 265 miles (426 km.) | |
| Weights | Empty 15,787 lb. (7,164 kg.) |
| Normal take off 24,470 lb. (11,110 kg.) | |
| Max. take off 26,455 lb. (12,000 kg.) (V.T.O. mode) | |
| Dimensions | Fuselage length 59 ft.7 ½ in. (18.17 m.) |
| Rotor diameter 69 ft.10 ¼ in. (21.29 m ) |
