The variant of Mi-8 helicopter with five-bladed rotor was tested in 1963, and at the end of 1965 was accepted to serial production. During 40 years practically all famous people became the passengers of this helicopter. Many of them have their own private Mi-8 helicopters.

     Navigational flight instruments and radio facilities of the helicopter enable to voyage at any time of day and even in heavy weather. Mi-8 has the windshield anti-icing system that works either automatically or by hand. Mi-8 has automatic pilot system that provides roll and pitch attitude holding, yaw stabilization and constant flight altitude. Any of the two engines switches on its increased capacity if the other one is malfunctioning. The forward flight is realized without loosing altitude.

     Rotor blades are all-metal. They consist of the hollow spar, which is made of the pressed aluminum alloy. All the rotor blades are fitted with pneumatic alarm of the hollow spar damage. The controlling system uses powerful hydraulic boost system.

     The maximum takeoff weight is 12000 kg, cruising speed is 225 km/hour, aviation range of action is 500 km, operating ceiling is 4500 km. To increase the range of action extra fuel tanks are set in. The length of the helicopter with the operating rotor is 25,24 m, the disposable load is 24 passengers/ 4000 kg of cargo.

     Our program “The visit to the new-born seals” uses the modification Mi-8MT, which is the latest one. The more up-to-date engines TVZ-117 with the additional gas-turbine unit AI-9V and particle separators near the ram air inlet were installed.