In 1948, the USSR developed a transport helicopter called the Yakovlev Yak-100.
This particular helicopter was a single-engine aircraft that was designed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau.
Interestingly, this was the second helicopter that was developed by the bureau.
The Yakovlev Yak-100 was a significant development in the field of aviation during the 1940s.
As a transport helicopter, it was designed to carry goods and people from one location to another.
With its single-engine design, it was able to achieve a level of efficiency that was not possible with other helicopters of the time.
The Yakovlev Design Bureau’s contribution to the development of this helicopter was a testament to their expertise in the field of aviation.
The Yak-100, which was originally called Yak-22, was developed to compete with Mikhail Mil’s Mi-1.
It had a conventional main and anti-torque rotor configuration and was powered by an Ivchenko AI-26GRFL radial piston engine.
The design of the Yak-100 was similar to the Sikorsky H-5, and it had a long greenhouse-style canopy that provided excellent visibility for the pilot and crewman / passenger.
During flight trials, the Yak-100 experienced some vibration issues, which were resolved by moving the centre of gravity of the main rotor blades behind their flexural axes.
The manufacturer’s trials were completed in June 1950, and the State acceptance trials were successful later that year.
Despite its success in trials, the Yak-100 was not put into production because the Mi-1 had already been prepared for production before the Yak-100 had completed acceptance trials.
The second prototype of the Yak-100 had three seats and some minor improvements. Specifications Yak-100 Crew 2 Capacity + 3rd seat in second prototype Length 13.91 m (45 ft 8 in) Empty weight 1,690 kg (3,726 lb) first prototype 1,805 kg (3,979 lb) second prototype Max take-off weight 2,090 kg (4,608 lb) first prototype 2,180 kg (4,810 lb) second prototype Powerplant 1 × Ivchenko AI-26GRFL , 313 kW (420 hp) Main rotor diameter 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in) Performance Maximum speed 170 km/h (110 mph, 92 kn) Range 325 km (202 mi, 175 nmi) Service ceiling 5,250 m (17,220 ft)
Hovering ceiling
2,720 m (8,920 ft) Sources Yakovlev Aircraft Since 1924 – Bill Gunston & Yefim Gordon. OKB Yakovlev, A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft-Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Komissarov & Sergey Komissarov. Soviet Aircrafts Illustrated-A.S.Yakovlev. The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918-Vaclav Nemecek. Soviet AF Fighter Colours 1941-45-Erik Pilaeskii. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol 1, Single Engined Fighters-Yefim Gordon and Dmitri Khazanov.
