# Identification of US-operated Mi-17 helicopters ## Introduction > [!warning] Rough Introduction > The Mi-8, and especially its export-designated derivative the Mi-17, have had an innumerable amount of derivatives since its introduction in the 1960s, making the effort of understanding this nebulous array of esoteric designations and potential modifications rather difficult. However, if you know where to look, it isn't all that hard to differentiate an airframe operated by a US organisation, be they private or DoD, from one that isn't. ## Model Designations > [!warning] Rough Overview > Aside from a few outliers, most of the US-operated Mi-17s are one of two main variants. The Kazan-built Mi-17v5s, their export variant of the military general-purpose model Mi-8MTV-5, make up over half of all currently-operating contractor-owned airframes between [[Vertol Systems Company Inc]] and [[Pegasus Technologies Inc]]. Ulan-Ude's Mi-171E is the other main variant, with it making up some of the contractor-owned fleet, as well as most, if not all of the [[Aviation Technology Office]]'s Mi-17s. [[Pegasus Technologies Inc]] also operated two Kazan-built Mi-172s, civil-passenger variants of the Mi-8MTV3. [[Vertol Systems Company Inc]]'s "legacy" fleet, as I term it, is also made up of two former Czech Republic Mi-17s, and two former Russian-civil Mi-8s, with largely identical visual features. > > Despite being produced in different factories, the technical specifications of the Mi-17v5 and Mi-171E remain broadly the same, with the [Mil design bureau stating](http://www.deftechinc.com/id62.html) that - from an airworthiness and overhaul / repair perspective - there are few, if any differences between models produced at Ulan-Ude and Kazan, and that the production standards are the same. Therefore, the main practical distinctions relate to the aircraft's configuration. It's made rather easy in some cases, as at least in the case of Ulan-Ude's Mi-171Es, the model is painted on the side of the fuselage, just forward of the passenger door. > > > [!example]- Embedded Image: ATO Mi-171E with visible model-lettering on the side > > ![[Mi-171E - registration unknown-019-1-1.png]] > > *An [[Aviation Technology Office]] Mi-171E makes a stop at Harnett Regional Jetport (KHRJ), NC, USA. Credit: [farmerflier.com](https://farmerflier.com). Notice the lettering in front of the passenger door denoting its model.* ## Configuration Distinctions > [!warning] Rough Overview > While Ulan-Ude and Kazan offer all manner of configuration options to suit the needs of their customers, the two most obvious options are the shape of the cockpit, and the style of rear-door. Both the Mi-17v5 and Mi-171E can have the more traditional rounded cockpit, seen above, or the newer "dolphin nose" specifically designed to accommodate a weather radar. When used with a traditionally-configured cockpit that has separate consoles for the Pilot and Co-Pilot, the rounded cockpit offered increased visibility, but did not allow much space for alternate cockpit configurations or additional equipment that needed to be placed in that area. > > So, while older images of [[Aviation Technology Office]] Mi-171Es from the early 2010s show this section still being usable by pilots, the fitting of equipment like aftermarket weather radars and sensors as well as potentially a more modern, monolithic console configuration means that the lower-section of windows on the ATO's Hips are now filled in. > > > [!example]- Embedded Image: Early ATO Mi-171E > > ![[Mi-171E - 13-7308-019-1.png]] > > *[[Aviation Technology Office]] Mi-171E 13-7308 photographed at Pensacola International Airport (KPNS), FL, USA, in late 2013. Credit: [Olivier Cortot](https://airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001546100.html). Unlike the previous image, you can still see through the lower-windows.* > > > [!example]- Embedded Image: "Traditional Cockpit Configuration" > > ![[Identification of US-operated Mi-17 Helicopters-019-1.png]] > > *An Mi-8 cockpit with a "traditional" configuration, allowing for visibility out of the lower row of front windows. Credit: [Henri Martin / Alamy](https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-interior-details-of-mil-mi-8-helicopter-cockpit-88604552.html)* > > > [!example]- Embedded Image: Modern Cockpit Configuration > > ![[Identification of US-operated Mi-17 Helicopters-019-2.png]]] > > *An example of a more modern Mi-17 cockpit configuration, with one monolithic console, inhibiting some visibility out of the lower windows compared to the traditional 2-console configuration. Credit: [businessaviation.com](https://www.businessaviation.com/inventory/sale-of-new-russian-helicopter-mi-171/index.html)* > > Meanwhile, all Mi-17s including Mi-171Es and Mi-17v5s operated by US contractors - with the exception of [[Vertol Systems Company Inc]]'s "legacy" fleet - possess the newer "dolphin nose". This allows the integration of a weather radar without any modification to the nose of the aircraft, and is designed to be configured alongside a the newer monolithic cockpit seen above. > > [!example]- Embedded Image: WX Radar of [[Mi-17v5 - 004M161 - N207XX]] > > ![[Mi-17v5 - 004M161 - N207XX-019-4.png]] > > *An Mi-17v5, N207XX currently operated by [[Pegasus Technologies Inc]], on display at the AVIASIT airshow in 2010 in Kiev-Gostomel (UKKM), Ukraine. Credit: [Igor Bubin](http://spotters.net.ua/file/?id=35461)* > > > [!example]- Embedded Image: Cockpit of [[Mi-17v5 - 004M161 - N207XX]] > > ![[Mi-17v5 - 004M161 - N207XX-019-6.png]] > > *Cockpit of N207XX as it was in 2010. Credit: [Vasiliy Koba](http://spotters.net.ua/file/?id=35354)*