The Mi-17 Medium helicopter is a single-rotor medium-sized transport helicopter with tail rotor developed by the Miri Design Bureau of the former Soviet Union.
The Mi-17 helicopters are produced by two aviation plants in Kazan and Ulan-Ude. NATO nicknamed it Hip-H. The Mi-17 was first exhibited at the Paris Air Show in 1981 and exported in 1983.
History
Mi-17 helicopter
Beginning in the late 1960s, the Soviet government decided to carry out further modifications to the Mi-8 helicopter, the main content of which was to increase the engine power, increase the load capacity, and improve the plateau performance of the helicopter. At that time, the Isotov Engine Design Bureau developed the more powerful TV3-117 (B3-117 in Russian) turboshaft engine with a single power of 1425 kW (1900 shaft horsepower), which was used in the amphibious anti-submarine helicopter Mi-14 and the combat helicopter Mi-1240.
The earliest prototype of the Mi-17, numbered Mi-18, was equipped with two T V3-117 turboshaft engines, using the dynamics of the Mi-14: the aircraft first flew on August 17, 1975, was later delivered to the troops, thereafter renamed the Mi-8MT, which was presented at the Paris Air Show in 1981, and according to advertisers, the civilian and export versions of the Mi-8MT were renamed the Mi-17 in 1981. NATO gave it the nickname Hip-H. This model has been exported to Cuba since 1983.
Subsequently, in 1987, an improved version of the Mi-8MT was developed. There are two types of this type: the civilian type is the Mi-8MTV-1, and the military type is the Mi-8MTV-2. The export type of the Mi-8MTV is the Mi-171. An improved Mi-8MTV-3 developed on the basis of the military Mi-8M T-2, designated mi-172.
The Mi-17 is very similar in appearance to the Mi-8 helicopter (only the tail rotor position is different, the Mi-8 tail rotor is on the right, the Mi-17 tail rotor is on the left), and the West nicknames both aircraft "Hippopotamus". After years of development technology is relatively mature, in the international helicopter market, because of its high cost performance and strong competitiveness, attracted a large number of third world countries, a large number of exports to Asia, South America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa and other regions, the total output (including Mi-8 helicopters included) up to 10,000 aircraft, Russian own military equipment about 3,000, the rest of the most for export.
In 1991, after inspection and negotiation, China signed the first batch of 24 Mi-17 helicopters produced by the Kazan Helicopter Factory. After trial, it is shown that the aircraft is suitable for use in the plains of China and has high transportation efficiency. The flight performance of the Mi-17 is not as good as that of the "Black Hawk", and after improvement, it basically meets the needs of the Tibetan plateau region, and the working life of the main components is relatively short, but the aircraft is mature in technology, cost-effective, economical and practical, and the cabin space is large and the carrying capacity is strong. After its introduction, it quickly formed combat effectiveness, participated in various military exercises many times, and made emergency dispatches to carry out tasks.
In 2008, the Indian Air Force procured 80 M-17V-5 helicopters for US$1.34 billion, followed by another 71 for US$1.53 billion in December 2012. Twelve of the second helicopters were ordered by Indian paramilitary forces.
In July 2015, the Indian Air Force will procure an additional 48 Mi-17V-5 Hippo medium helicopters to complement its fleet of 139 helicopters it has procured since 2008.
Technical features
Power plant
Structural diagram of the Mi-171 helicopter
The Mi-17 helicopter is an improved version of the Mi-8 and is almost identical to the Mi-8, but the tail rotor of the Mi-17 is on the left side of the vertical stabilizer, the same as the Mi-14. From the outside, the engine compartment of the Mi-17 is shorter, but the air intake above the midpoint of the left hatch in front of the cockpit is closer to the front, and the small nozzle in front of the nozzle in front of each side of the nozzle is redesigned. The Mi-17 is equipped with two TV3-117MT turboshaft engines with a single takeoff power of 1454 kW (1977 shaft horsepower). Compared with the Mi-8, the performance has been greatly improved. The output of the two engines is synchronized and the rotor speed is automatically maintained. If there is a loss of power in one engine, the output of the other engine increases and it is automatically compensated. If one engine stops working, the power output of the other engine is increased to an emergency power of 1640 kW (2230 shaft horsepower), thus keeping the helicopter flying, and the auxiliary power unit starts the turboshaft engine with compressed air. If required, the engine air intake can be equipped with a deflector plate to avoid inhaling foreign objects such as sand and dust when landing at an unpredicted landing site. The cockpit layout and payload have not changed much compared to the Mi-8. The Mi-17 is mainly a passenger and cargo transport type, which can transport vehicles, engineering facilities and various goods, and can carry 24 passengers or 12 stretchers.
Pneumatic layout
The Mi-17 is an aerodynamic layout of a single rotor with conventional tail rotors, the 5 blades of the rotor and the 3 blades of the tail rotor are made of metal materials, the fuselage is a metal semi-hard shell structure, the upper part of the fuselage is equipped with two TB3-117MT turboshaft engines, the single take-off power is 1545 kW, the front and upper part of the nose are the air intake holes of the two engine sand-proof devices, and the landing device is the front three-point wheeled landing gear.
The cockpit has seats for the front and co-pilot and a random crew, 24 foldable seats along the side walls of the cabin, and a tie ring for cargo on the cockpit floor. There is a sliding hatch in the left front of the cabin that can be thrown, there is a large space in the cabin to erect a stretcher, the lower part of the fuselage is equipped with an external fuel tank, and the tail of the cabin has a pair of emergency doors that can be opened left and right.
Performance data
Mi-17 helicopter reference data:
| Rotor diameter | 21.29 meters |
| Tail paddle diameter | 3.90 meters |
| Rotor tail rotor center distance | 12.661 m |
| Captain (including rotor and tail rotor rotation) | 25.352 meters |
| Fuselage length (excluding tail rotor) | 18.424 meters |
| Machine width | 2.50 meters |
| Machine height | 4.757 m (to the top of the rotor hub) |
| Main wheelbase | 4.510 meters |
| Front main track | 4.281 m |
| Cabin volume | 23 m 3 |
| Empty weight | 7100 kg (with equipment) |
| In-flight | 4000 kg |
| Hanging | 3000 kg |
| Normal takeoff weight | 11100 kg |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 13000 kg |
| Maximum paddle load | 0.358 kN/m2 (36.5 kg/m2) |
| Occupant | 27 people |
| Maximum level flight speed | 250 km/h (maximum take-off weight) |
| Maximum cruising speed | 240 km/h (maximum takeoff weight) |
| Practical ceiling | 5000 m (normal takeoff weight) |
| 3600 m (max. takeoff weight) | |
| Hover height (no ground effect, normal take-off weight) | 1760 meters |
| Range (maximum standard fuel, 5% residual fuel) | 495 km (normal takeoff weight) |
| 465 km (max. takeoff weight) | |
| 950 km (with auxiliary fuel tank, normal take-off weight) |
Derivative models
Mi-17 helicopter pictures to enjoy (20 photos)
The Mi-17 Hippo helicopter is a successor model to the improvement of the Mi-8 "Hippo" for the civilian and export markets, the prototype adopts the basic Mi-8 fuselage structure and the power unit and pneumatic system of the Mi-14, debuted at the 1981 Paris Air Show, and began to be exported in 1983. Production of the Mi-17 takes place at the Kazan Helicopter Factory and the Ulan-Ude Aircraft Factory. In total, more than 1,100 aircraft were delivered.
In addition, the Mi-17 has a variety of modifications and derivatives:
Mi-17P "Hippo" K communication jammer
In 1990, 2 were seen in the Hungarian army. The antenna array on board is greatly improved compared to the Mi-8 "Hippo" K. The large 32-yuan array is mounted on a perpendicularly separated siding behind the main landing gear on each side. The 4-yuan formation is mounted on both sides of the tail beam. There are large radomes under the vents on both sides of the cabin.
Mi-17-1VA "Hippo" H
Mi-17 helicopter (19 photos)
It was first exhibited at the 1989 Paris Air Show. This type is used in Russia as an aviation hospital. Inside there are 3 stretchers, an operating table, various surgical and medical equipment, equipped with the position of 1 surgeon and 3 paramedics. This model is equipped with two more powerful TV3-117VM turboshaft engines with a single power of 1678 kW (2280 shaft horsepower), and the climb rate and hover limit have been improved, but there is no change in weight and performance.
M-17
The original version of the Mi-17 helicopter, the export version of the Mi-8MT.
M-17-1M
Version suitable for high-altitude action.
M-17-1V
Armed version, export version of the Mi-8MTV-1 helicopter.
M-17-1VA
Air Ambulance Station version.
M-17V
The export version of the Mi-8MTV, a high-altitude version, is equipped with two TV3-117VM high-altitude engines with a maximum height of 6,000 meters.
M-17V-1
Export version of the Mi-8 MTV-1 helicopter. Civilian model with radar.
M-17V-2
Export version of the Mi-8 MTV-2 helicopter. It is an improved model of the Mi-8MTV-1 and can accommodate 30 people.
M-17V-3
Export version of the Mi-8MTV-3 helicopter. It is a military model developed from the Mi-8MTV-2.
M-17V-5
Export version of the Mi-8MTV-5. Military transport models. Springboard tail doors replace mussel shell tail doors. The Dolphin nose accommodates radar. Delivery to the Russian Air Force began in 2012.
Mi-8 MTKO
Export version of the helicopter, night battle model.
M-17P
Export version, passenger model.
M-17PG
Export version of the Mi-8MTG helicopter.
M-17PI
Export version of the Mi-8MTI.
M-17PP
Export version of the Mi-8MTPB.
M-17S
Version for VIP use.
M-17AE
A version exported to Poland for use.
Mi-17 LPZS
A version for use in Slovakia.
米-17Z-2 "Dam"
A version for use in the Czech Republic.
M-18
A modified version of the Mi-8 and Mi-17.
M-19
Helicopter airborne command post version.
Mi-19R
M-171
Export version of the Mi-8AMT, produced in Ulan-Ude.
Fly low in the valley
M-171C
A version of the Mi-171 helicopter produced by a helicopter company in mainland China.
Mi-171Sh
Export version of the Mi-8AMTSh helicopter. Army Assault model.
M-172
A civilian version developed according to the Mi-8MTV-3.
Service dynamics
Mi-171 helicopters fly at ultra-low altitudes in mountainous areas
During the Sino-Russian joint military exercise of "Peace Mission-2005," the Mi-17 airborne raid formation dispatched to carry out low-altitude penetration, and the helicopters before the plane descended to suppress the fire on the ground.
Overall evaluation
The average attendance rate of the Mi-17 helicopter is 90%, and the reliability probability of performing the mission is 97.5%. Accumulated experience in improving combat effectiveness and survivability under harsh conditions. It is recognized worldwide as a medium-sized multi-purpose helicopter with high durability, reliability and versatility.
The Mi-17 is based on such a high starting point and continuously improves and continues to achieve new developments. The most prominent development feature of the Mi-17 is its strong adaptability and wide versatility.
Flight accidents
At 11:52 a.m. local time on December 7, 2021, a Mi-171SH military helicopter in Peru took off from Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport to the city of San Ramón, and then continued to fly eastward, with the final destination being pucarpa, in Peru's Ucayali region, located in the Amazon plain region. However, the Peruvian Air Force Gazette said that the helicopter did not arrive at its first destination (the city of San Ramón) on time, but disappeared from the radar at 12:49 a.m. near the Andes Mountains.
On December 8, 2021 local time, an Indian Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in Tamil Nadu, southern India, with 14 people on board, including the top general of the Indian army and chief of defense chief Bipin Rawat.