Risky Mi-8 takeoff in alpine tundra

1:20 Engines start 4:50 Liftoff This summer we’ve been doing geological prospecting in West Chukchi region & got transported by helicopters a lot. This is one of the takeoffs I filmed from extreme closeup. Because helicopter time is expensive, when we arrive at a new ground we are expected to let chopper go ASAP. So we just drop all our stuff on the ground nearby rather than taking it further away. A heli than takes off & departs. During the takeoff we have sit in extreme proximity (basically under the spinning blades) and hold our tents and food boxes so they don’t fly away. At some point in the video heli starts to lift and then turns away from us, while it’s scary spinning tail rotor hangs ominously just overhead. Needless to say, this was one of the more “exciting” takeoffs I witnessed :) The heli is RA-22498 Mil Mi-8 stationed in Bilibino, Chukchi Autonomous Region. Extra fuel tanks have been fitted and are visible #geology #helicopter #tundra