Mil Mi-44
| Industry | Aerospace |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Moscow , Russia |
| Products | Helicopters |
Overview
The Mil Mi-44 represents a utility helicopter currently being developed by the Mil Design Bureau, deriving its design from the Mi-34. Intended to succeed the Mi-34, it was envisioned as the Soviet Union’s main utility helicopter. Development remains ongoing but has experienced delays attributed to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.Template:Fix/category[citation needed]
Design and development
During the mid-1980s, the Omsk OKB initiated work on the TV-O-100, a lightweight 650 hp engine tailored specifically for integration with the Mi-44. This powerplant was expected to elevate the helicopter’s maximum takeoff weight to approximately 1,800 kilograms (4,000 lb) and enable top speeds reaching 260 kilometres per hour (160 mph). Research conducted by the Mil Moscow Helicopter Plant in 1986 and 1987 determined that substituting the Mi-34’s original M-14V26 piston engine with the TV-O-100 turbine necessitated modifications to the airframe. The redesigned mockup featured significant alterations, including repositioning the fuel tank beneath the gearbox and moving the stabilizer to the tail’s keel beam.
Initial evaluations by prospective operators indicated that employing two 400 hp engines would be optimal for performance. The preferred choice to fulfill this criterion was the TVlD-450 engine, anticipated to enhance maneuverability. In 1988, Mil presented a preliminary Mi-44 design equipped with twin 450 hp TVlD-450 engines. Although minor refinements have been made since the prototype phase, final decisions regarding engine configuration remain unresolved, leaving the project incomplete.[1]
Specifications
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- V. R. Mikheev, "MVZ Mil – 50 years"