Mi-8/9 Hip in Detail Book Review

By Michael Benolkin

Review

The vast rugged terrain of the Soviet Union was made for the helicopter (as Peter Ustinov says in the various "Wings over the Red Star" episodes). Observing the west's development and use of the helicopter, the Mil OKB was tasked with developing such a capability for the Soviet Union as well.

With the widespread success of the Mi-4 (NATO Codenamed 'Hound') as a utility and combat support aircraft within the Soviet and Warsaw Pact armed forces, designers started to look at the requirements for a more capable machine in the late 1950s. First flown in 1961, the V-8 prototype would be the beginning of the development of one of the world's most versatile helicopters, the Mi-8 (NATO Codenamed 'Hip').

Powered by a pair of TV-2-117 turbine engines, the Mi-8 would become the Soviet analog to the US's UH-1 Iroquois (Huey). The aircraft could be adapted to a wide range of missions, but unlike the UH-1, the Mi-8 had greater range, cargo capacity, and twin-engined reliability. Like the UH-1, key components of the Mi-8 would be adapted into an attack helicopter variant, the Mi-24 (NATO-Codenamed 'Hind') - the UH-1 components of course were used in the development of the AH-1 Cobra.

The authors have collected a significant number of nice color photographs of the Mi-8 and these photos look into the various nooks and crannies of the helicopter in that style that Wings and Wheels Press is famous for. Detailed examinations of the airframe, engine, cockpit, cargo compartment, tail boom rotor and transmission and tail rotor are examined.

The sub-variants covered in this title include:

• Mi-8/Mi-8T
• Mi-8TBK
• Mi-8/9 Interior/Exterior/Engines/etc.
• Mi-8PPK
• Mi-8S
• Mi-9

If you're wanting the TV-3-powered Hips, the Mi-8MT and Mi-17, you'll have to wait for the next edition. I'll definitely be waiting. In the meantime, this is an excellent title to add to your collection, especially if you follow Soviet aviation.

Definitely recommended!