Russian Civil Helicopters: News

Mi-34M1 with domestic VK-650 engine, 10.16.2024.


The modernized Mi-34M1 with the VK-650 engine, developed in Russia by the company "UEC-Klimov", performed its first hover today.

I had forgotten about the Mi-34... it needed a Russian engine... sounds like it now has one...

Excellent.

The VK-650V has twice the power, weighs half as much, uses less fuel in takeoff mode, and only slightly more, like 10% more, in cruise. Maybe. Not 100% sure on that final one. Turbines are typically most fuel efficient at full blast, unlike piston engines.

https://rumotor.org/engines/vk-650v/

VK-650V
Engine power in emergency mode: 750 hp
Engine power at takeoff: 650 hp
Weight: 105 kg
Specific fuel consumption: 0.245 kg/hp h

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedeneyev_M14P
https://yak-52.com/Power%20Settings.htm

Vedeneyev M14P
Engine power at takeoff: 360 hp
Weight: 214 kg
Specific fuel consumption: 0.285-0.315 kg/hp h (99% power)
Specific fuel consumption: 0.210-0.230 kg/hp h (64% power)

Better late than never!

The Mi-34 is not exactly a new model anymore, but it's great to have a fully domestic helicopter of this class available. I think all the competing prototypes from other manufacturers all used foreign engines as well.

Now the next step would be to re-engine the Ka-226 as that helicopter is actually widely in service. The Ansats and Ka-62s and whatever can wait.

I wonder if the extra power might lead to a change in the main rotor... perhaps an extra blade or modification of the blades length and width?

It is reported that on October 15, 2024, at the airfield of JSC Mil and Kamov National Helicopter Manufacturing Center of Russian Helicopters in Tomilino, Moscow Region, the first prototype of the light Mi-34M1 helicopter, equipped with a VK-650V turboshaft engine manufactured by JSC UEC-Klimov, made its first hovering flight. The Mi-34M1 helicopter is a modernized version of the light Mi-34S family helicopter, equipped with piston engines. There was no official announcement about the Mi-34M1 helicopter program or the start of flight tests of its first prototype. The first prototype of the modernized light helicopter Mi-34M1 (S-1, OP-2, tail number "1002"), equipped with a VK-650V turboshaft engine, during its first flight in hover mode.

https://bmpd-livejournal-com.translate.goog/4866337.html?_x_tr_sl=ru&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en#cutid1

GarryB wrote:I had forgotten about the Mi-34... it needed a Russian engine... sounds like it now has one...

Excellent.

it was actually a "forgotten" project for years. First version flew in 1986

Helicopter with VK-650V engine takes to the air for the first time
18.10.2024

On October 15, 2024, the upgraded Mi-34M1 helicopter made its first hovering flight at the Mil and Kamov National Helicopter Manufacturing Center in Tomilino, Moscow Region. The machine is equipped with a VK-650V turboshaft engine manufactured by UEC-Klimov. Video story from Tomilino published in VK Mashnews.

Previously, helicopters with the VK-650V engine had not taken to the air. Initially, it was designed to replace imported power plants on the Ansat and Ka-226 helicopters. The Mi-34M1 became the first flying helicopter with the VK-650V engine, ahead of the Ansat, which is only being prepared to begin certification flight tests with this turboshaft engine.

The Mikhail Mil Design Bureau developed the Mi-34 in the 1980s as a light training and sports helicopter to replace the Mi-1 and Mi-2 used for these purposes. The power plant was a piston engine M-14V-26 with a capacity of 325 hp designed by I.M. Vedeneyev.

In 2009, Russian Helicopters announced plans to resume production of the Mi-34 in two variants: the modernized piston Mi-34S1 and the gas turbine Mi-34S2 with an Arrius 2F engine with a capacity of 504 hp from Turbomeca. As Andrey Shibitov, CEO of Russian Helicopters, stated on the eve of MAKS-2009, one of the tasks that the holding company faced at that time was diversification of the model range with the aim of moving into the niche of the best-selling machines in the civilian sector.

However, this program was later abandoned in favor of developing a new light helicopter in partnership with the Italian company Agusta Westland. Joint work with the Italians ceased in 2014.

In 2023, Russian Helicopters returned to the idea of ​​reviving the Mi-34 with the Russian VK-650V turboshaft engine. Now this promising turboshaft engine is being considered for installation on helicopters and in the turboprop version on the Yak-152 training aircraft, as well as for use in a hybrid power plant , a demonstrator of which was created in Klimov.

In the context of the severance of all relations with the Russian aviation industry by former Western partners, Russian Helicopters needs to add a single-engine gas turbine helicopter to its model range that could compete with the Airbus H125 and H130, Agusta AW119 and Bell 407 and 505. The implementation of this program is facing delays primarily due to the lack of domestic theater aircraft. The success of the programs to create light helicopters and training aircraft largely depends on the timing of the VK-650V certification and the launch of its serial production by UEC-Klimov.

https://aviation21.ru/vertolyot-s-dvigatelem-vk-650v-vpervye-podnyalsya-v-vozdux/

I think they would be better off redesigning the helicopter. The Mi-34 was originally designed to keep the radial piston engine behind the cockpit. So that huge space is right now unused. The higher output engine, it has twice the power, also allows the creation of a larger helicopter capable of carrying more stuff.



If you look at the Mashnews video at 2:50 the Mi-34M1 looks kinda overpowered and a bit hard to control with the VK-650V. But they definitively need a good cheap single engine helicopter. And this engine will likely be produced in large numbers for Ka-226 and Ansat twin engine helicopter designs, so it should be a good candidate for the propulsion unit.

IMHO they probably did not announce the flight because it was likely just a test flight to check engine integration with an helicopter airframe that they had readily available. But given the interest people showed in the test flight this might change and lead to the creation of a single engine helicopter.

The engine has to fit the scope of the frame so throwing in an overpowered one is kind of stupid. I like Garry's idea of extra blades but that will probably make
things worse since the frame is too light. I think the engine is a more substantial engineering challenge than the frame. They have no excuse not to redesign.
If they pull the cost argument, then they should be shot on the spot.

George1 wrote:

GarryB wrote:I had forgotten about the Mi-34... it needed a Russian engine... sounds like it now has one...
Excellent.

it was actually a "forgotten" project for years. First version flew in 1986

Damn, you are right

1986, that's a long time ago but better late than never, as long as they get them rolling off the assembly lines in numbers it's all good

Plus it still looks nice enough, just imagine how good it looked 30 years ago

lancelot wrote:I think they would be better off redesigning the helicopter. The Mi-34 was originally designed to keep the radial piston engine behind the cockpit. So that huge space is right now unused....

Just put extra seats and a cargo compartment there, no biggie

Damn, you are right

1986, that's a long time ago but better late than never, as long as they get them rolling off the assembly lines in numbers it's all good

I remember in the 1990s an article in Air International mentioning a revitalising of the Mi-34 with new engines that are going to make it viable and popular...

(Edit... looking at a post above it might have been in 2009...)

The engines of course were western, and one included as the article above mentioned a French engine at 504hp, so this engine isn't a lot more powerful, and they can use the extra power for better hot and high performance and also as PD mentions... give it greater capacity.

This engine is going to be used in the Yak-152 and probably the Altius twin engined drone, so using it in the Mii-34 and also the Ansat (as a twin) and the KA-226 as a twin would make sense.... though for the latter the VK-800 engine in twin arrangement would be good for a specialist hot and high helicopter or just using it as a sky crane with no module fitted would be interesting too.

Just put extra seats and a cargo compartment there, no biggie

Of course we do lack important information... the original engine was 350hp, but the French engine they were going to use was a 500hp engine, so maybe the original engine could have been underpowered?

Now that the engines they have been working on all this time are becoming available they will be spoiled for choice, but a 650hp for takeoff and 750hp for emergency rating is not a huge amount more powerful than the French engine at 500hp.

They will be getting the VK-650, the VK-800, and the VK-1600 engines, plus the new engines for the Il-112/Il-114 that will also be used in the Mi-38 as well.

Really should take the time to map out all the new engines and the aircraft and drones they could be used on...

Even just changing from a piston engine to a gas turbine will dramatically improve high altitude and also hot environment performance, so operators in Afghanistan or India would appreciate the improved performance.

I had a look at some old photos of the Mi-34 and it is a two seat helo with the piston engine behind the seats, whereas this new modification has the engine in the roof below the main rotors and space for four seats.

It essentially seems to have moved from a Robinson R-22 to a Robinson R-44 like helicopter with this new engine.

The use of the VK-650 in the Mi-34 (1 engine), and the Ansat (two engines) and the standard Ka-226(two engines), should lead to the wide use of the engine... especially if used in larger drones too.

Would like to see the Ka-226 have a sky crane version with the more powerful VK-800 engines too... or perhaps a scaled up naval modular type that can carry extra fuel for long endurance flights.

Maybe even a VK-800 equipped Ansat armed helicopter with light modern composite armour and armament like twin 23mm cannon and rocket pods and missiles.

I wonder if the Russians are developing a replacement for the Mi-8/17 helicopters. (I'm not sure if this is the right topic to talk about this)

What happened to the Kamov Ka-60? I heard that NPO Saturn had problems developing the Saturn RD-600V turboshaft engines and that's why French Safran turboshaft engines were preferred over NPO Saturn engines. (I think in 2011 when Russia and Europe relations were good?)

I know that France doesn't supply engines to Russia due to sanctions. Is the development of the Ka-60 helicopter still ongoing or is it abandoned?

and is there any updates from the Mi-38, which we can consider it as the true successor to the Mi-8/17? I have seen one or two helicopters with Russian Air Force markings, but production seems to be going pretty slowly.

This year, the Mi-171A3 appeared, but I guess it is only for the civilian market? I read that Russia uses these helicopters to transport personnel to offshore oil and gas platforms

Well it's the wrong topic

But

The thing about the Mi-8/17 is their latest models can do 90-95% of what the Mi-38 can, but at a considerably lower price.
The Mi-38 has a higher level of automation and computerization, reducing the crew to 2, has slightly better performance characteristics and can carry more load. But it's basically more of the same. When they start producing more for the civilian field, any kinks are worked out and its cost comes down, the military might become interested.

While the Ka-60 doesn't have a Russian engine as yet so go figure. If it did, then yes I'd agree that it will be optimal to replace the Mi-8/17 in some roles - such as medevac or as a light utility transport.. maybe something in the naval field too. It also needs less crew, is a bit faster, consumes less fuel and is more compact.
The Mi-8/17 still have their advantages in terms of much larger troop and cargo capacity, an under-sling, the ability to be better armoured, and it being a proven reliable platform.