Mi17 V5 (Source: Indian Air Force official website)
In a tragic incident, Indian Air Force’s Mi-17 V-5 chopper crashed near Arunachal Pradesh at 6 am in the morning leading to 7 deaths. The news was confirmed by The Indian Air Force itself. These choppers were supplied to India by Russia and rank among the most technically advanced helicopters of the Mi-8/17 type, incorporating the best engineering solutions of previous generations. The chopper which was handed over to India is deployed in troop and arms transport, fire support, convoy escort, patrol, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions by the Indian Air Force. In case you don’t know what is a Mi-17 V-5 chopper, here are five interesting facts about it:
1) Mi-17V-5 is produced by Kazan Helicopters, a subsidiary of Russian Helicopters. The Indian MoD had awarded a $1.3bn contract to Russian Helicopters for 80 helicopters in December 2008.
2) The chopper is designed to transport cargo inside the cabin and on an external sling, the Mi-17V-5 is one of the world’s most advanced helicopters. It can also be deployed in troop and arms transport, fire support, convoy escort, patrol, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
3) The chopper can fly in tropical and maritime climates, and desert conditions. The large cabin of the helicopter offers a floor area of 12.5m² and an effective space of 23m³.
4) The cockpit of the Mi-17V-5 is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics including four multifunction displays (MFDs), night-vision equipment, an on-board weather radar, and an autopilot system. The Mi-17V-5 has a maximum speed of 250km/h, and a standard range of 580km, which can be extended to 1,065km when fitted with two auxiliary fuel tanks. It can fly at a maximum altitude of 6,000m.
5) The chopper is also protected against explosions as the self-sealed fuel tanks are filled with foam polyurethane.
