As a convoy of trucks was driving in the middle of a blizzard during the harsh
Kazakhstan winter of 2017, an apparition from a by-gone era caught them completely off guard.
Amidst the whiteness of the horizon, a Soviet Mi-8 helicopter with its massive rotor blades
still stirring was parked in the middle of the highway, obstructing their path.
The confused drivers hesitated to go anywhere near the running helicopter,
but suddenly a dark silhouette got out of the gunship and approached the convoy,
while the otherworldly encounter was documented for the world to see…
A First in Soviet History
The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet-era helicopter developed after the proven effectiveness of the Mi-4
and Mi-6. Initially, the military dismissed Mikhail Mil’s proposal for a new helicopter
because they were more than content with the existing rotary aircraft.
In response, Mil proposed an upgrade to new turbine engines rather than an
entirely different helicopter. The council of ministers agreed, and production soon started.
A clever Mil argued that the engine's position required a significant redesign of its front half,
and the new airframe was then developed around a single AI-24 Soloviev turboshaft engine.
Interestingly, it was the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Nikita Khrushchev,
who paved the way for the eventual two-engined version.
During an official visit to the United States in 1959, Khrushchev took a flight in the presidential
S-58 helicopter and was highly impressed. Upon his return to the Soviet Union, he ordered a
similar helicopter that had to be ready by the time the American President visited them.
A luxury version of the Mi-4 was thus developed, but its creator knew better.
During Khrushchev’s inspection flight, Mil proposed that the new helicopter he was developing
would be more suitable, adding that it would only require a second engine for reliability.
Empowered by Khrushchev’s support, Mil was finally able to build his original two-engined helicopter.
And for the first time in Soviet history, purpose-built turbine
engines were devised for the prototype, rather than adapting models from fixed-wing aircraft,
with an entirely new main rotor gearbox designed in-house.
In 1960, Mil was asked to create the twin-engined helicopter while Sergei
Isotov’s Design Bureau would create the engines.
The V-8 prototype’s design had started back in 1958 and was based on the Mi-4, but with a larger
cabin. It first flew in mid-1961, and shortly after, it participated in the Soviet Aviation
Day parade. But it wasn’t until the third twin-engined prototype took its first flight
in 1962 that a new era in Soviet air design began, with its purpose-built turbines.
The aircraft completed its factory-based testing with two final prototypes in early 1953.
These were a VIP transport and a mass-production vehicle for the passenger market.
Then, the following year, all joint testing was completed, and the helicopter
entered mass production, with its first production example delivered in late 1965.
Despite its proven performance, the Soviet military didn’t show much interest in the model
until the American Bell UH1 was widely publicized during the Vietnam War.
Only then did the Soviets rush a troop-carrying variant that joined the Soviet Air Force in 1967.
From then on, many variants branched from the original, including the Mi-17 export
version that is operated by dozens of countries, including Kazakhstan.
Lost and Found
Deep into the February winter of 2017, a snowstorm covered the steppes of northern Kazakhstan
when an uncanny object suddenly blocked the Aktobe-Shymkent highway: a Mil Mi-8 helicopter
had landed in the middle of the road near the village of Karabutak, cutting off both lanes.
The imposing machine halted a convoy of cargo trucks while parked there with its
rotors still twirling slowly and stirring snow all around.
One of the drivers caught the incident on camera, and the footage eventually went viral.
In the video, the black profile of the helicopter can be seen against the white background,
as a voice is heard complaining: (QUOTE) “What the fuck is he doing?
He is just sitting there in the middle of the road.”
Moments of silence follow as the truck drivers hesitate to come closer to the 21-meter blades.
Before long, a campy figure disembarks from the gunship, dressed in black from head to
toes. The man then jogs gracelessly towards the trucks and shakes hands with the first driver.
He then engages in an unheard conversation while
gesticulating frantically and pointing in several directions.
The driver then points in the helicopter's direction, and the pilot then makes his way back.
Still, while walking towards the Mi-8, he turns around to give the driver a thumbs up,
and then he can be seen holding down his fur hat amidst the strong winds.
As the pilot reaches the helicopter, a voice from the convoy radio can be heard laughing and saying:
(QUOTE) “They were lost. He came to ask which way to Aktobe.” Incredulously, another voice replies:
(QUOTE) “How can you get lost in the steppe? How the hell can you get lost in the steppe?”
Next, the Mi-8 revs its engines and starts its way up,
whipping up stacks of snow as it resumes its mission as if nothing had happened.
The video of the surreal encounter quickly spread online to the point
that the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense was flooded with questions.
The authorities then released a statement saying that the helicopter was loaded
with four rocket pods and was carrying out a: (QUOTE) “Planned visual orienteering exercise.”
The statement also affirmed that the helicopter returned to the airfield where
it was based without further drawbacks. Reportedly, the exercise was a success.
During drills, trainee pilots are told to figure out their location on their own
by using the resources at hand, just as they would in case their equipment fails.
However, they are allowed to get help: (QUOTE) “By means of human survey.”
New Horizons
In late 2019, JSC Russian Helicopters signed a supplementary agreement with
Kazakhstan Engineering and Aircraft Repair Plant No. 405 for 460 million US dollars.
The deal called for an initial batch of 17 semi-knockdown kits supplied by the Russian
Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant to assemble Mil Mi-8AMT/Mi-171E helicopters in the country.
The first 8 examples were delivered throughout 2020,
and the last should take no longer than 2026. In fact, an outline foresees the delivery of
no less than 45 kit versions to Kazakhstan by 2025, which will be assembled locally.
On their part, Russian Helicopters will certify the assembly line,
provide through-life support for assembled platforms, and general assistance.
Plus, the company offered to deliver training for Kazakh personnel.
Notably, Minister of Defense and Aerospace Industry Beibut Atamkulov
had reported in 2018 that Aircraft Repair Plant No. 405 already had significant
experience with the Russian aircraft, with up to 10 front-line helicopters
and four military transport aircraft that needed to be repaired at the facility.
Despite the plant’s considerable expertise in regards to maintenance and overhaul of
Mil helicopters, the new agreement will benefit the national industry greatly.
Chairman of the board of Kazakhstan Engineering, Kuanysh Bishimov, explained: (QUOTE)
“The technology for assembling heavy helicopters has been introduced to Kazakhstan for the first
time and this is a significant step in the development of Kazakhstan’s helicopter industry.”
Similarly, Andrey Boginsky, chief executive of Russian Helicopters, commented: (QUOTE)
“Our cooperation will assist in the modernization of Kazakhstan’s rotary-wing fleet and in the
enhancement of the scientific and technical potential of local [Kazakh] enterprises.”
Thank you for watching our video! If you enjoyed this story, please give us
a thumbs up and let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Also, subscribe to all our
Dark Documentaries channels for more military anecdotes from all over the world. Stay tuned!