When I think of Soviet Cold War era helicopters, the Mil Mi-24 Hind assault helicopter gunship first springs to mind. Brutish and sinister, bristling with weaponry from the flexible 12.7 mm Yakushev-Borzov Yak-B Gatling gun (or 23mm/30mm fixed cannons on some models) to underwing rockets, bombs, gun pods and anti-tank missiles, it can pack a punch and also can carry up to 8 troops in the rear cabin, plus the standard crew of pilot and weapons system officer. A true beast from the east!

In service since 1972, over 2,600 have been produced since 1969 across many variants from the Mi-24 Hind-A through to the Hind-G models, plus export Mi-25/35 and Russian Mi-35’s. The type has served 59 countries and been used in many conflicts including the Soviet Afghanistan period, African conflicts, the Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War, civil wars in Nicaragua and Sri Lanka, counter insurgency in South America and Africa, the Balkan Wars and other conflicts across the globe (plus UN Peacekeeping missions)! Have gun, will travel!

Over the years it turns out I have seen quite a lot of these ubiquitous helicopters, both flying and static at airshows and museums around the world. Here are a few that spring to mind (mostly former Soviet and Warsaw Pact examples, with some exotics in the mix)!