Balkan Models

1/72 Mi-8 Balkan Veterans decal sheet

Product # BM-7212

Product  Article by Steve Bamford on Feb 5 2015

 

      

This new decal sheet from Balkan Models includes markings for 8 different 1/72 Mi8 and Mi-17 helicopters that served in the Balkans.  

The Mil Mi-8 is a Soviet-designed medium twin-turbine Transport helicopter. There are also armed gunship versions. The Mi-8 is among the world's most-produced helicopters, used by over 50 countries. Russia is the main producer and the largest operator of the type. Robust and versatile helicopter found a place in Yugoslavian Air Force squadrons.

The Yugoslav Air Force bought 24 Mi-8T (Hip C) transport helicopters from May 1968 to May 1969 to equip two squadrons of the newly formed 119th transport regiment from Niš military airport, each squadron with 12 helicopters. Subsequently, from 1973 to the early 1980s, Yugoslavia purchased more Mi-8T helicopters to re-equip two squadrons of 111th regiment from Pleso military airport near Zagreb and the 790th squadron from Divulje military airport near Split, which was under the command of the Yugoslav Navy. In total, the Yugoslav Air Force received 92 Mi-8T transport helicopters from Soviet Union, known formally to the military as the HT-40, while local modification of several helicopters into electronic warfare variants produced the HT-40E. Some 40 helicopters were equipped for firefighting operations.

The 8 aircraft include: 

  • Mi-8T #12241 Yugoslav AF,138th Transport Aviation Brigade, Batajnica AF, 1991

  • Mi-8TV #12239 Yugoslav AF, 111th Aviation Brigade, Pleso AF, 1991

  • Mi-8MT #305 Macedonian AF,301st Transport Helicopter Squadron, Petrovec AB, 2006

  • Mi-17 #301 Macedonian AF, 301st Transport Helicopter Squadron, Petrovec AB, 2007

  • Mi-8MTV #1803, Bosnian and Croat Federation AF, Raljevac AB, 1999

  • Mi-8T #12269 Serbian AF, 890th Mixed Helicopter Squadron, Batajnica AB, 2011

  • Mi-8T #12205 ”Vrček”(Ex Yugoslav seized by the Slovenian Army), Rakicani sports airfield, 1991

  • Mi-8T #H-101, Croatian AF, Mixed Helicopter Squadron, Lučko AB, 1992/93

This decal sheet gives you a wonderful selection of aircraft from numerous countries in the Balkans in a variety of paint schemes and markings. 

You can buy this decal sheet directly from Balkan Models.

Steve Bamford

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford