picture 219473

The FAP acquired its first Mi-8T in May 1970 as a donation from the USSR following an earthquake. The type was well-liked by its crews, foremost for its high-altitude performance, and thus additional examples were acquired during the mid-1970s. By 1981, all were operated by EA.332 of GA.3 as assault and transport helicopters. The majority were painted in dark olive drab (BS381C/298), with undersides in light admiralty grey (BS381C/67), but some were painted in bright red overall: either way, most FAP Mi-8Ts in 1981 also had their front fuselage painted in dayglo orange. Large service titles on the sides, and serials on the boom – usually in black, but sometimes in white – were a norm of the day: sometimes, civilian registrations were applied instead. (Artwork by Tom Cooper)