The purpose of creating of the Mi-8MSB helicopter is need to improve the flight performance of Mi helicopters during operating in hot climate, high-altitude take-off areas and high altitudes.
MI-8MSB WORLD RECORDS

In August 2013, the Mi-8MSB helicopter with new generation engines TV3-117VMA-SBM1V 4E series at the airport "Kirovske", Crimea. Feodosia set a number of world records (according to FAI classification):
Absolute world record in subclass E-1g:

maximum height of horizontal flight - 9155 m;

2. Records in E-1g class E-1 (weight from 6000 kg to 10000 kg):

maximum achieved flight height without cargo - 9155 m;

maximum achieved flight height with payload of 100 kg - 9155 m;

maximum flight height with payload 200 kg - 8440 m;

maximum flight height with a payload of 1000 kg - 8440 m;

Maximum flight height with payload 2000 kg - 7530 m;

3. Records in subclass E-1h of class E-1 (weight from 10000 kg to 20000 kg):

maximum achieved flight height with payload of 5000 kg - 5450 m.

For more information, see the Mi-8MSB presentation (PDF)