In brass; medallion is 29.0 mm wide; weighs 17.6 g including the suspension. The obverse has inscription "Honored Veteran of Labor". The reverse shows the current factory logo with stylized letters "MVZ" (for Московский Вертолетный Завод) and inscription "Named after M.L. Mil".

The medal is in very fine to excellent condition. There is no visible wear. There is mild tarnish on the obverse, but the finish is overall nice and bright. Comes on original suspension with clean sky-blue ribbon.

The Moscow Helicopter Factory originated in the late 1920s from a research bureau headed by Mikhail Mil. In 1947, it grew into a fully-fledged production facility and during the next year, became the birthplace of the first mass-produced Soviet helicopter, the Mi-1. In the decades that followed, the factory manufactured many civilian and military helicopters of the famous Mi series, and it remains fully operational to this day. After the death of its chief designer Mil in 1970, it was given his name and in 1977, was awarded with an Order of the Red Banner of Labor for its outstanding achievements. Judging by the inscription on the medallion, the award was issued at some point between these two dates. Later, the factory awarded its workers with a medal of slicker design showing a helicopter on the obverse. The early, 1970s version of the award is very scarce.