The Mil Mi-34 (NATO reporting name: Hermit) is a light helicopter designed by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant in either a two or four seat configuration for utility and training. It was first flown on 17 November 1986 and introduced at the Paris Air Show in 1987. The Mi-34 entered production in 1993, and is capable of performing aerobatic manoeuvres, including rolls and loops.
A new domestic engine version, Mil Mi-34M1 made its first hovering flight in October 2024. It uses the Russian made VK-650V turboshaft engine instead of the previous Radial engine.[1]
Variants
Mi-34S[note 1] – four seat production model powered by a 239 kW (325 hp) Vedeneyev (VOKBM) M-14V-26V nine-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine mounted sideways in the fuselage, and equipped with modern avionics. A few aircraft were purchased by the Moscow police.
Mi-34S2 "Sapsan" – turbine version of the Mi-34. It will be able to accommodate up to 4 passengers and the first deliveries are planned by the end of 2011. It will be powered by Turbomeca Arrius-2F[2]
Mi-34L – proposed version powered by a 261 kW (350 hp) TextronLycoming TIO-540J piston engine. None built.
Mi-34PPatrulnyi (English: patrol) – Police patrol version for Moscow Mayor Office.
Mi-34A – Luxury version, intended to be powered by an Allison 250-C20R turboshaft engine. None built.
Mi-34M1 – New prototype, powered by Russian made VK-650V turboshaft engine.[1]
Mi-34UT – trainer with dual control.
Mi-34V or Mi-34VAZ or Mi-234 – proposed version powered by two VAZ-4265 rotary piston engines.
Mi-44 – proposed development with TV-O-100 engine and refined aerodynamics. A mockup was built in 1987.
^Jane's (2004–05) indicates that the Mi-34S is the base design and that prior to 1999, all marketing literature referred to the Mi-34 using the Mi-34C designation. The S or C suffixes were used to indicate the aircraft's certification by the Interstate Aviation Committee. The Russian word for certified (Russian: Сертифицированные) begins with the CyrillicC, which is romanized as the letter S.
^Jackson, Paul, ed. (2000). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 2000–01 (91st ed.). Coulsdon, Surrey, United Kingdom: Jane's Information Group. pp. 429–431. ISBN978-0710620118.
Jackson, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN0-7106-2537-5.