Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Lights on! Mi-8 on a helipad

This amazing shot shows the Mi-8 helicopter at night with its various lights on. The rotor blade tip lights have created a visible circle in this picture.

A Mi-8 (Z2404) lies parked. Unit is unknown.

A Mi-8 (Z2404) lies parked. Unit is unknown. The helicopters have since then given up the blue-green camo scheme to be replaced by standard IAF grey.

Under slung load operations

A Mi-8, transporting a light-terrain jeep to a forward army base. On one ocassion, the Mi-8 had airlifted an Otter aircraft slung under it at Sarasawa

An Mi-8 belonging to the "Throughbreds"

An Mi-8 of the 112HU Throughbreds flies against the colorful backdrop of the Deccan plateau.

An Mi-8 helicopter equipped with four rocket pods.

An Mi-8 helicopter equipped with four rocket pods.

Z1363 Carrying the Ensign

Mi-8 Z1363 seen here only a few years ago has to be one of the oldest Mi-8s still in the IAFs Service.

Z1380 is from the first batch of Mi-8s to have been procured in 1971

For deployment in the armed support role, IAF Mi-8s are conventionally camouflaged in tones of dark green & light grey-brown. This particular helicopter (Z1380) is from No.109 Knights Helicopter Unit.

Mi-8 on Offshore Platform duties at Bombay

A Mi-8 (Z1383), from the No.109 Helicopter Unit, returns from an offshore platform in Bombay High.

Z1951 taxying at Yelahanka

Z1951 belongs to No.112 HU - the Throughbreds. Seen here at Yelahanka during Aero India 2007

Mil Mi-8 Z2062

Z2062 was photographed in 2008, a sight that will become rarer in the years to come

Mil Mi-8 Z2062

Z2062 was photographed in 2008, a sight that will become rarer in the years to come

Z2160 parked at Yelahanka

Z2160 of the Throughbreds - No.112 Helicopter Unit at Yelahanka

Mi-8 [Z2163] at Yelahanka seen during Aero India 2005.

Mi-8 [Z2163] at Yelahanka seen during Aero India 2005.

Mi-8 coming into land at Begumpet Air Port.

An Mi-8 [Z-2345] flies against the ragged skyline of Secunderabad city as it comes in to land at Begumpet Airport

Mi-8 Z2345 after landing at Begumpet

Mi-8 Z-2345 taxiing on the Begumpet Airport runway. The helicopter dropped the Aakash Ganga Skydiving team the next day over the Hussain Sagar lake.

An Mi-8 at Yelahanka

The backbone of the IAFs helicopter fleet is the Mi-8/17 which is operated by approximately 17 squadrons, including this Mi-8 (Z2352) from the No.112 Helicopter Unit at Yelahanka in Bangalore, which is part of the Transport Training Wing (TTW).

Mi-8 painted in day glow colors.

A Search and Rescue Mi-8 [Z-2354] based at Car Nicobar.

Z2366 of 112 HU taking off

Z2366 belongs to No.112 HU - the Throughbreds. Seen here at Yelahanka during Aero India 2007

Z2384 with rocket pods at Lohegaon

An Mi-8 [Z2384] of 112 HU armed with Rocket Pods about to start on a weapons training sortie.

Z2384

Z2387

An Mi-8 armed with rocket pods in flight over Pune

A Mi-8 (Z2388) from the Indian AFs VIP unit, at a desert station

A Mi-8 (Z2388) from the Indian AFs VIP unit, at an unknown air force station.

An Mi-8 on a flood relief sortie

The IAF is not just about guns and war, as this image aptly shows a Mi-8 on a humanitarian mission to rescue stranded citizens in a flood ravaged village in India.

VIP Configured Mi-8 at Yelahanka

A Mi-8 (Z2408) based in Yelahanka. These choppers are used to transport important individuals in Government, such as Presidents, Prime Ministers and Air Chiefs.

Z2451 at a desert station

A Mi-8 (Z2451), from No.107 Desert Eagles Helicopter Unit, fitted with air-to-ground rockets.

Z2452 in flight

Z2452 belongs to No.112 HU - the Throughbreds. Seen here at Yelahanka during Aero India 2007

Mi-8 over Port Blair

An Mi-8 carries the Indian flag during the opening ceremony of Exercise MILAN 2010

Z2836 in VIP Colors

Z2836 in VIP colors belongs to Training Command HQ Flight.