Mil Mi-34 Explained

Mi-34
First Flight:	17 November 1986
Introduction:	1993
Status:	out of production (new re-engined prototype has been produced at 2024) ^[1]
Produced:	1986–2011, 2024-present
Number Built:	27 (+1 new prototype at 2024)
Unit Cost:	US$350,000 (Mi-34S, 1993) US $1 million (Mi-34S2, 2011)

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.

Variants

• Mi-34S^[2] – 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^[3]
• Mi-34L – proposed version powered by a 261 kW (350 hp) Textron Lycoming TIO-540J piston engine. None built.
• Mi-34P Patrulnyi (en|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.
• 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.

Operators

Military operators

Bosnia and Herzegovina

• Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina^{[4] [5]}

Nigeria

• Nigerian Air Force^[6]

References

• Jackson, Mark. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. .

External links

• www.Aviation.ru

Notes and References

1. https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/163589/
2. 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 (ru|Сертифицированные) begins with the Cyrillic C, which is romanized as the letter S.
3. Web site: New Rotorcraft 2011: AINonline . 2011-02-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110208000255/http://www.ainonline.com/news/single-news-page/article/new-rotorcraft-2011-28355/ . 2011-02-08 .
4. Web site: R: Bosnia-Herzegovina 1Mi-34S/Hermit Light helicopter (1998). armstrade.sipri.org. 17 February 2013. 14 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. dead.
5. Web site: Mil-Mi-34 Federation Air Force . Demand media . 17 February 2013.
6. Web site: Gearbox failures lead Nigerian Air Force to sell Mi-34 fleet . helihub.com . 27 July 2011. 17 February 2013.