ALABINO (Moscow Region), August 4 (RIA Novosti) – The first test run of the MI-8AMTSh Arctic helicopter will be carried out in winter, with a test version currently under construction at the aircraft factory in Ulan-Ude, Buryatia, the head of the government supplies department at Russian Helicopters, Aleksey Putintsev, told RIA Novosti Monday.
“This is a special modernization of the Mi-8 for northern latitudes. First of all, we plan to produce it for the army. A trial model is now being built. At the moment, the helicopter fuselage is ready. We plan to start the tests in the upcoming winter, so that customers will be able to consider a purchase,” Putintsev said.
Putintsev also noted that the helicopter could be used for polar explorers’ and oil producers’ needs.
The new helicopter is being designed based on the Mi-8AMTSh-B military transport helicopter, which is equipped with new VK-2500-03 gas turbine engines and modernized avionics.
The Arctic helicopter is built specifically for exploitation in adverse weather conditions in the far north. The helicopter is being developed for low visibility conditions, including Polar nights, and is to be able to fly without a satellite signal.
Russian Helicopters is a helicopter design and manufacturing company founded in 2007 and headquartered in Moscow. The company designs, manufactures, services and tests modern civilian and military helicopters.
According to the company’s website, the enterprise produced around 35 percent of the global combat helicopter fleet and nearly 74 percent of ultra-heavy helicopters worldwide.
