The Punjab Engineering College University of Technology formerly just Punjab Engineering College is one of India’s oldest colleges’ and offers engineering studies in fields like Aeronautical,Civil,Mechanical,Electrical etc.
The college has good infrastructure for aero engineering with many labs and a few aircraft.One of them is a Mi-8 of the Indian Airforce
The Mi-8 has been placed right outside the Administration Block of the college which is close to the main entrance.The helicopter was presented by Air Cmde. SPS Virk ,AOC 3BRD on 23rd January 2004.
The helicopter on display is from the early batches of Mi-8T’s acquired and was built somewhere in 1971 and served till 2003.The aircraft has been maintained and kept in good shape , with it retaining the IAF livery and its registration numbers and a few markings.The port side door has a commemorative plate of the 3BRD.The helicopter has the usual IAF roundel , finflash on the tailboom and the registration painted below one of the cockpit windows.The rotors have been tied down to prevent them from vibrating in the wind.Its good to see the college taking care of this aircraft and maintaining it properly.
The Mi-8s are powered by two TV2-117A turboshaft engines.The Mi-8T(“Hip-C”) is the standard military version with clam-shell doors capable of carrying 24 fully armed troops.
The helicopter has been the workhorse of the Indian Airforce and has been almost replaced by the Mi-17.
Other aircraft in the college include a Spitfire , Kanpur I (BR570) and a Auster Aiglet (VT-DYU)
Wish to see many more of these Mi-8s on display
🙂
foxbatone 