Krasnodar-based PANH is among the largest operators of the Mi-8T in Russia, which uses the type for a wide variety of utility roles.

This Mi-8T is operated by the Flight Research Institute at Zhukovsky for search and rescue and various research initiatives.

The Russian Air Force still operates around 100 Mi-8T/Ps, and a significant proportion are used for training at Syzran.

PANH, which operates this Mi-8T, believes there is still plenty of life remaining in its Mi-8T fleet.

The Slovakian company Techmont uses Mi-8T/P OM-XYC for a range of specialist transport services, including moving pipes.

The Mi-8T is a real workhorse in the extreme cold of Russia’s far northern territories and Siberia.

More than 600 Mi-8T/Ps are in commercial use in Russia, with another 100 held in storage that could be re-introduced following refurbishment.

Thirteen Mi-8MSBs have been ordered by Ukraine’s military and national guard for tactical transport.

The 1960s-era rotor blades on the Mi-8T/P are restricted to 3,000 hours or ten years’ service, making them a focus area in any future upgrade.

Most of the Mi-8T’s commercial operators in Russia, such as Karelia, are compelled to keep their old Mi-8Ts in service for as long as possible.

The Mi-8MSB is a re-engined derivative of the basic Mi-8T offered by Motor Sich of Ukraine with increased hot-and-high performance, range and payload, but no avionics and instrumentation improvements.

Only a handful of 'classic' Mi-8s are used by commercial operators in Europe. Most are operated by Heli Air of Bulgaria supporting UN humanitarian operations in Sudan and South Sudan.

The Mi-8’s spacious stand-up cabin can accommodate up to 24 passenger seats or bulky cargo.

The new derivatives of the Mi-8/Mi-17/Mi-171, such as this UTair Mi-8AMT, are more expensive than the Mi-8T/P in price and direct operating costs. Most, if not all, existing Mi-8T operators do not see them as direct replacements.