Mi-171 Helicopter: specifications and photos

The ingenuity of the Soviet engineers was unrivaled. Some achievements and developments of past years are still actively used by the current generation. And the matter concerns not only scientific achievements, but also projects of ground, water and even air transport.

The newest multipurpose Mi-171 helicopter, which Russian scientists are so proud of, is just a modification of the world's most massive twin-engine Mi-8 helicopter, developed in the USSR.

Such different and similar at the same time

The Mi-171 helicopter was developed at the plant in Ulan-Ude with direct support from the experienced design bureau named after Mil, located in Moscow.

The helicopter Mi-8AMT was used as a basis. The main differences between the two models are that the Mi-171 model has significantly better flight characteristics. It is capable of flying under difficult meteorological conditions. Due to the new and more powerful equipment, the Mi-171 can rise higher and has a greater payload capacity.

A series of military helicopters Mi-171Sh was developed and adopted in service in 2009. It is designed to defeat air, surface and ground targets, as well as for landing and transport of military equipment.

Today, the Mi-171 is known as a transport, military transport and civilian helicopter, which is recognized as one of the leading in the world. Only military modification is delivered to 23 countries. But before to become such, the helicopter has passed a long way of development.

History

We can say that the development began in 1977 at a factory in Kazan. It was here that the Mi-8 helicopter was subjected to significant changes. So the Mi-8AMT appeared. The fuselage of the car has most clearly changed - it was made much longer to increase the area of the cargo compartment (it now accommodated 29 people in the assault with full equipment). Significant changes were also made to the equipment of the cabin (the Mi-171 is fundamentally different from its progenitor). But the practice showed that such a conversion did not benefit the helicopter - the extended fuselage created great vibrations. To solve this problem, in 1985 a new power plant was developed and introduced.

The finalization of the car continued for another two years. During this time, qualitative changes were made to the design, which allowed the helicopter to move in a horizontal plane at an altitude of 6 thousand meters, to land at altitudes of up to 4 km, and also to make longer flights and to gain altitude faster. The final development was completed in 1991. It was then that the Mi-171, a new-time helicopter, was born.

Specifications

The most obvious difference of the new machine from previous examples is the more modern design of the airframe, as well as the presence of an additional door on the starboard side. In addition, the area of the left side entrance was increased. Upgrading the doors allowed the soldiers to leave the helicopter in just 15 seconds.

Today, the Mi-171 includes a modernized carrier system and transmission, a pilot-navigation system, modern avionics, introduced into the design. In 1999, the helicopter received a certificate such as the US standard, which indicates its high efficiency and reliability.

Civilian model

The helicopter in question is one of the most successful developments of the Mil Design School. Airlines operating Mi-171, note the multifunctionality, ease of operation and maintenance, high reliability of the model. The rotorcraft is delivered to the aircraft market in several variants:

• Freight - a standard type of equipment designed to transport goods weighing up to 4 tons inside the cargo hold or on the external suspension;
• The passenger is used to carry passengers in the amount of 26 people, is equipped with emergency exits, climate control system, noise and vibration isolation;
• The VIP-model is used for transportation of passengers in conditions of the raised comfort in structure up to 14 persons, the helicopter can be equipped by means of entertainment, the satellite Internet and other systems;
• Search and rescue is equipped with special equipment (winches, searchlights, radar complexes), allows searching and evacuation of people in all weather conditions;
• The fireman is used for liquidation of fires with the help of a spillway device on an external suspension, and also for delivery of equipment to the fire concentration area.

The high performance of the Mi-171 helicopter, the possibility of its use under various weather conditions and in a wide temperature range made it one of the best in the world.

Civil modifications

The spheres of application of the Mi-171 helicopter are constantly expanding due to the introduction of new developments and constant modernization. In view of this, it is impossible to name and describe all existing civilian models.

The main modifications of the helicopter are:

• Mi-8MTV-1 - helicopter with engines of the TV3-117VM series, with the implemented automatic emergency mode, capacity of 2000 liters. With., Which is maintained to an altitude of 3.6 km above sea level. Dynamic ceiling of the machine - 6 thousand meters, serially produced since 1988.
• Mi-171A1 is a modified Mi-171 helicopter, the characteristics of which correspond to the norms of the airworthiness of the USA.
• The Mi-172, a model developed on the basis of the Mi-8MTV-1, has been the only rotary-winged vehicle in Russia since the beginning of 2017 that has been adapted for the commercial transportation of passengers.

The civil Mi-171 version first took off in 1992 and was to be available only for export to other countries. Now it is actively used in Russia.

Military model

The Mi-171SH combat vehicle is a new-generation rotorcraft, which absorbed all the advanced developments of the military-defense complex. It is designed for landing troops (up to 16 people), transporting goods and military equipment weighing up to 4 tons in the transport compartment or external suspension, can be used to transport up to 12 wounded on stretchers.

The armor of the Mi-171Sh is slab. If necessary, it can be removed and the maximum load capacity increased. To protect against guided missiles, the helicopter is equipped with a mechanism for the EVU, which shields the exhaust. In addition, the machine is equipped with an automatic deflector reset system. All this significantly increases the combat survivability of the apparatus.

Military modifications

Arming the helicopter allows him to destroy both stationary and moving targets on land, in water and air. Currently, there are two main modifications of the helicopter:

• Mi-8AMTSH-V differs with new gas turbine units of the Klimov series, as well as the availability of auxiliary engines such as TA-14 and a set of updated avionics.
• Mi-8AMTSh-VA - a modification designed for flights in the Far North, is characterized by its resistance to ultra-low temperatures, an updated set of navigational instruments that allow to fly in conditions of reduced visibility.

Some military Mi-171 helicopters have an extended door on the starboard side, a ramp on the electrohydraulic drive for quick landing.

Further development

The helicopter is constantly being improved. The most recent and modern development is the Mi-171A2, which entered mass production in 2014. For the first time it was presented at the international exhibition HeliExpo-2012 in the USA.

The machine has an improved power plant and transmission, a modified set of avionics, a new system of operation and maintenance. Such innovations have determined its widespread prevalence. That is why the manual for technical operation is freely available for the Mi-171 helicopter.