Topic: Mi 17

A licensed rotary and fixed-wing pilot explains that the term "hard landing" is often a euphemism for a crash when applied to helicopters. While fixed-wing aircraft like a Cessna 182 can survive a hard landing that rattles teeth or breaks an altimeter, a helicopter landing with excessive force typically results in a rollover and rotor destruction. The missing Iranian aircraft is identified as a Soviet-era MI-17, which utilizes wheels rather than skids.

The U.S. Department of Defense is under fire for a $1 billion contract with the Russian firm Rosoboronexport to provide MI-17 helicopters for the Afghan military. Senator John Cornyn noted that the same company is supplying weapons to the Syrian regime. The hosts highlight the irony of the U.S. buying Russian equipment while sanctions against the firm were previously lifted in 2010.