Russian Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters flight record exceeds 2500 hours.

 The total flight time of Mi-8AMTSh-VA helicopters produced by Ulan-Ude Aircraft Plant (U-UAZ) has exceeded 2500 hours, Russian Helicopters Holding said.

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A Mi-8AMTSh-VA "Arctic" helicopter showcased during the MAKS 2017 airshow (Picture source: Air Recognition)

“Several Mi-8AMTSh-VA operate in the Aerospace Forces and naval aviation. They were numerously engaged in operations in Yakutia, Chukotka, and Kamchatka. The rotorcraft demonstrated unique capabilities in a 30-day autonomous deployment in extremely low temperatures,” Rostec Industrial Director of the aviation cluster Anatoly Serdyukov said.

Mi-8AMTSh-VA was designed for operations in the North. It has heating of the oil system and transmission and can rapidly start up the engines at temperatures of down to minus 60 degrees Centigrade.

U-UAZ began batch production of Mi-8AMTSh-VA in 2015. Its operational experience was used to design Mi-8AMT civilian helicopter with a similar set of optional equipment for the Arctic.

The Defense Ministry and U-UAZ signed a contract for Arctic helicopters in February 2015. The price and the number of rotorcraft was not disclosed. The first helicopter was handed over in November 2015, another five vehicles were to be supplied in 2016-2017. The Russian army may need a hundred Mi-8AMTSh-VA, former Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Borisov said in 2015.

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