Taken from the car park of Panera Bread on Nassau Expressway

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR + TC 17 EII]

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR + TC 17 EII]

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR + TC 17 EII]

To be VQ-BSL

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR + TC 17 EII]

This V-8AP, an early Mi-8 prototype, was presumably taken in June 1965 when it was on its way to the air show at Le Bourget, just like many other aircraft did back in the day. Its c/n is thought to be 0203. The registration CCCP-06181 was later falsely painted on c/n 3135 (preserved at the Technik Museum Speyer) and on c/n 0604 (preserved at Monino). It was also re-used by a Mi-26.

This very rare and unusual bird was nicknamed "Homer" by the NATO and is by far one of the most exotic aircraft ever to have passed through the airport. It was accompanied by Mil Mi-8 CCCP-11097, both aircraft on their way to the Le Bourget airshow. Because they were not allowed to fly over West Germany (Cold War issues), they had to re-route via Denmark and also The Netherlands to take on fuel. This is the first prototype, which ended up stored / preserved at the MVZ im. Milya factory at Tomilino, and was still there by late 2018. The one on display at Monino since 1975 is the second prototype. Initially it carried no registration there, but in 2012 they falsely painted it with the registration of this first prototype.

[Nikon D300s + Nikkor AF-S 70-200mm/2,8G VR]

Arriving on flight SU2578 from Moscow-Sheremetyevo.

Scanned from negative.

Scanned from negative.