The Mil Mi-8MTV2 (NATO Hip E) is the armed version of the Russian-built, medium lift twin-turbine combat transport and utility helicopter. The Mi-8MTV2’s six external hard points enable it to carry a wide variety of weapons. These include up to 6 x 100 kg or 250 kg, or 2 x 500 kg bombs; 23 mm and 30 mm gun pods; and 80mm rocket pods (120 rockets - HE, AP, Frag, Illum). The Hip E can also mount 12.7mm (0.5 inch) heavy machine guns in a side pod and on a swivel door-pintle.
One of the most successful military helicopters ever built, the Mil Mi-8 entered Soviet Air Force service in 1967. Able to carry up to 24 fully-armed combat troops, the Mi-8T series was also adapted to fire unguided-rockets. More than 17,000 Mil Mi-8 variants have been built, and it is in use with 50 countries.
The Hip E has a cruising speed of approximately 230 kph, a combat radius of 600 km and can carry loads of up to 6000 kg. It has seen combat all over the world, most extensively in the 1979-1989 Russian-Afghan War, where it proved to be a robust, effective and versatile workhorse. Exported widely, the Mil Mi-8 remains in service with many armed forces.
Developed by Belsimtek with help from a seasoned Mi-8 pilot, the DCS: Mi-8MTV2 ‘Magnificent Eight’ was created by the same expert team behind the DCS: UH-1H Huey. Take the controls and enjoy the space where virtual meets reality.
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight is a highly realistic PC simulation of the Mi-8MTV2, a combat transport and fire support helicopter and an upgraded variant of one of the most widely produced helicopters in the world - the Russian Mi-8 (NATO reporting name ‘Hip»). Having serving in over 50 countries in a wide variety of models over the past 40 years, the Mi-8 is a revered veteran of countless military operations and civilian services around the world. Developed by Belsimtek and Eagle Dynamics, the team behind the hit title DCS: UH-1H Huey, DCS Mi-8MTV2 continues to deliver exceptional realism and immersive gameplay within the DCS World virtual battlefield.
The simulation features accurate modeling of all primary aircraft systems, avionics, and proper functionality of nearly all cockpit switches and controls. Flight and other dynamics are modeled using real-time physics calculations and carefully tuned using actual Mi-8MTV2 documentation and pilots deeply involved in development and testing. The result is not only the most realistic Mi-8 reproduction on the PC, but a comprehensive helicopter model that correctly presents complex dynamic effects particular to helicopter flight, such as: autorotation, vortex ring state (VRS), translational lift, and many others.
As part of the DCS World battlefield, you are placed in the cockpit of the Mi-8MTV2 to fly combat transport and support missions as the left pilot, right pilot or gunner. Equipped for close fire support, the helicopter can be armed with unguided rockets, gun pods, and on-board machine guns. In the transport role, a cargo of up to four tons can be carried internally or three tons on an external sling system to deliver and retrieve supplies in a wide variety of terrain and weather conditions. A series of single missions and a handcrafted, immersive campaign plunge you into the heat of battle in the DCS World battlefield of countless AI and a variety of player-controlled fighter and attack aircraft, helicopters, and ground units. Get online to play with or against other DCS players in a synthetic online battlefield.
A quickstart guide and interactive training help you get started quickly while the comprehensive Flight Manual details the helicopter's systems and operational procedures. A wide variety of gameplay options allows each player to tailor their difficulty level as required.
Key Features of DCS: Mi-8MTV2 Magnificent Eight include:
The Mi-8MTV2 is designed to enhance the mobility of ground forces and provide fire support on the battlefield.
The primary missions performed by the helicopter include:
The internal and external payload of the helicopter can be configured as required to perform the above missions, including fitting of armament, additional fuel tanks, internal and externally slung cargo, medical stretchers, etc.
The helicopter can be operated in daytime or nighttime and under visual or instrument meteorological conditions.
The crew consists of three members: the Pilot-Commander, Pilot-Navigator, and Flight Engineer.
Principal dimensions:
| Length: | |
| Nose to vertical fin training edge | 18.424 m |
| With turning rotors | 25.352 m |
| Height: | |
| Less tail rotor | 4.756 m |
| With turning tail rotor | 5.321 m |
| Clearance | 0.445 m |
| Main rotor: | |
| Diameter | 21.294 m |
| Number of rotor blades | 5 |
| Direction of rotation | Clockwise (viewed from above) |
| Tail rotor: | |
| Type | universal joint |
| Diameter | 3.908 m |
| Direction of travel | Clockwise (viewed from port side) |
| Number of rotor blades | 3 |
| Landing gear | |
| Type | Tricycle |
| Main wheel track | 4.510 m |
| Wheel base | 4.281 m |
| Static ground angle | 4°10' |
Performance characteristics:
| Normal takeoff weight | 11,100 kg |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 13,000 kg |
| Cargo capacity: | |
| Normal | 2,000 kg |
| Maximum (with full main fuel tanks) | 4,000 kg |
| Troop capacity | 21 – 24 |
| Wounded on stretchers capacity | 12 |
| Maximum level flight speed at altitudes of 0 - 1000 m: | |
| Normal takeoff weight | 250 km/h |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 230 km/h |
| Cruising speed at altitudes of 0 - 1000 m: | |
| Normal takeoff weight | 220–240 km/h |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 205–215 km/h |
| Hover ceiling with normal takeoff weight OGE (standard atmosphere) | 3,960 m |
| Service ceiling: | |
| Normal takeoff weight | 5,000 m |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 3,900 m |
| Service range at an altitude of 500 m and cruising speed with full main fuel tanks until 5% fuel reserve: | |
| With a payload of 2,117 kg | 495 km |
| With a payload of 4,000 kg | 465 km |
| With one full auxiliary fuel tank | 725 km |
| With two full auxiliary fuel tanks (ferry range) | 950 km |
Helicopter velocity is determined using complete equations that calculate the forces and moments not only at the fuselage center of gravity (CG), but also acting on the turning rotors, which include the flapping motions of the rotor blades. This makes it possible to model all of the dynamic effects specific to helicopter flight.
The aerodynamic forces acting on the helicopter model are derived as a summation of the parameters of its individual elements: main and tail rotors, fuselage, vertical stabilizer, horizontal stabilizer, pylons, and undercarriage. Each of these elements is positioned and orientated individually within the airframe's local coordinate system and has its own aerodynamic characteristics.
The aerodynamic characteristics of each model element are pre-calculated with special software using numerical methods. In determining the forces and moments acting on the main and tail rotors, the calculations include the axial and longitudinal components of airflow speed, blade pitch, rotor angular velocities, airflow parameters, and blade inertia characteristics.
The aerodynamic forces acting on each model element are determined according to its pre-calculated characteristics in its own coordinate system. This includes local airflow velocity changes in the vicinity of the element as induced by other model elements.
Each element has a damage/destruction capacity that affects the lifting and center of gravity calculations of the model. Damage can be affected either by aerodynamic force or by physical contact with the ground or other objects. Ground and object contact is modeled using a system of rigid body points.
The detailed, real-time modeling of the dynamics involved with the main and tail rotors, fuselage, empennage, and other elements of the airframe produces flight characteristics that closely match those of the real helicopter and make it possible to naturally induce and closely model important flight conditions and effects like torque-induced yaw, translational lift, translating tendency, rotor overspeed and droop, retreating blade stall, autorotation, settling with power (vortex ring state), etc.
The Mi-8MTV2 simulation was developed under the management of an experienced Mi-8 pilot and with reference to a wealth of aircraft documentation and further testing by pilots and other subject matter experts to ensure the accuracy of the model's performance.
DCS: Mi-8MTV2 features an accurate and highly detailed 3D model of the helicopter using a 100,000+ triangle construction and a variety of historically accurate high resolution liveries. Multiple-texture maps, normal maps and specular maps are used to achieve a variety of special effects while skeletal animation is used to animate rotor blade flexing.
The main rotor assembly is fully animated and correctly translates movement of the cyclic and collective controls to the rotor system, making it possible to visually see rotor disc tilting, conning, and blade pitching.
The model includes extensive damage visualization that includes sector-based bullet/shrapnel penetration, canopy/window fracturing and penetration, and variety of partial or complete tearing of aircraft sections.
