A Russian Mi-38 helicopter set a new world altitude record on Monday on the final day of the 14th FAI World Helicopter Championships near Moscow, rotorcraft maker Russian Helicopters said.
The Mi-38, designed for cargo and passenger transport, climbed to above 8,600 meters (28,380 feet), setting a new world record for helicopters weighing 10-20 tons.
The record-breaking helicopter was flown by pilots from Russian Helicopters’ Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant.
The helicopter’s flight crew was led by captain Vladimir Kutanin, and also included Salavat Sadriev (second pilot), Oleg Repitilo (navigator) and Igor Klevantsev (Air Force chief flight test engineer).
The multirole Mi-38 is currently being flight-tested and is due to enter production in 2015, Russian Helicopters says.