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The Mil Mi-8T is a 24-seat multi-role transport helicopter powered by two Klimov TV3-117VM turboshaft engines.
The Mil Mi-8 (NATO reporting name 'Hip') was evolved from the piston-engined Mil Mi-4. The prototype
flew first on 24 June 1961 powered by a single 2700 shp Soloviev AI-24V turboshaft mounted above the cabin.
The 4-blade rotor system was generally similar to that of the Mil Mi-4. The second machine, with the single
Soloviev supplanted by a pair of two 1400 shp Isotov TV2-117 turbines, flew first on 17 September 1962.
In 1963, the 5-blade rotor that became standard for the production machines replaced the 4-blade rotor.
The Mil Mi-8 has a basic crew of two with provision for a third crewmember, a cabin for 28 passengers or, in
the ambulance role 12 casualty stretchers and two medical attendants. The Mi-8 was exported to over 50 countries.
In 1981, the Mi-8 was replaced in production by the re-engined Mi-17 that was flown first in 1980 as the Mi-8MT
(Modified Transport). The Mi-17-1V is the export equivalent of the Mil Mi-8MTV-1.
Over 12000 Mi-8s and Mi-17s were built.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Mil Mi-8T helicopters is MI8. |
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In April 1974, Mil Mi-8T s/n 10529 entered service with the NVA LSK/LV (East German AF) HG 34 as '913'.
From August 1979, the NVA-913 was operated by HTG 34 at Brandenburg/Biest. In 1990, Mil Mi-8T '913' was modified for
SAR duties. On 28 September 1990, before the completion of the German reunification, registration DDR-VHG was reserved
for this helicopter for use by the East German Police but ntu. After the German reunification in 1990, the Luftwaffe
assumed control over the NVA equipment and many of the GDR's military aircraft were declared obsolete or incompatible
with NATO technical standards and withdrawn from use or sold. Code '94+23' was alloted for Mil Mi-8T NVA-913. The 1974-built
Mil Mi-8T '94+23' was transferred to the Bundesgrenzschutz to be operated by GSFlgStff Ost but the '94+23' not used and
remained in storage at Briest. The '94+23' was one of the Mil Mi-8T helicopters for which a civil 'D-HOZ*' registration was
requested for use by Polizei Brandenburg, Potsdam, but however registration D-HOZG was alloted on 30 January 1991,
registration D-HOZG was ultimately not used. In April 1991, Mil Mi-8T '94+23' joined LTG65. In June 1994, the '94+23' was
withdrawn from use, offered for sale and stored at Drewitz. The '94+23'was sold to Ha-De Export Import and preserved
first at Flugplatz Nardt near Hoyerswerda in Sachsen. In 2002, the Mil Mi-8T was sold to Family Sanner and is since
part of Luftfahrtsammlung Sanner in the industrial area Bensheim-Auerbach in Hessen. The Mil Mi-8T was fitted with a
tailboom of another Mil Mi-8, painted in fake grey/grey Soviet colors and is preserved in the open air. In 2016,
the collection, including the Mil Mi-8T, moved to a nearby location. Since, Sanner Adventures started renovating the
planes for the so-called Redstars collection, an exhibition of Russian aircraft technology from the Cold War era on
an area of over 1000m².
On 2 June 1994, a number of Luftwaffe' Mil Mi-8T helicopters were seen at Fliegerhorst Wunstorf (ETNW), including Mil Mi-8T '94+23'. |
