Looking every bit as deadly, South African Defence Force troops kept a very careful lookout for these iconic Soviet era attack helicopters. This rather surreal and dark image of a enemy Angolan Hind Helicopter operated by FAPLA taking off in Angola during the Border War in the late 1980’s.

The Mil #Mi-24 (???? ??-24, NATO reporting name: Hind) is a large helicopter gunship and attack helicopter and low-capacity troop transport with room for eight passengers. It is produced by Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant and operated since 1972 by the Soviet Air Force, its successors, and more than 30 other nations.

In NATO circles, the export versions, Mi-25 and Mi-35, are denoted with a letter suffix as “Hind D” and “Hind E” respectively. Soviet pilots called the Mi-24 the “flying tank”, or ???????? ???? (letayushchiy tank) because of its ability to carry and discharge a vast array of armament along with strength, versatility, protection and robust combat readiness.

Photo copyright Outapi war museum #FAPA-DAA