Yakovlev Yak-100

The Yakovlev Yak-100 was a single engine, transport helicopter developed in the USSR in 1948. This was the Yakovlev Design Bureau's second helicopter.

The Yak-100 (initially designated Yak-22) was developed in direct competition with Mikhail Mil's Mi-1. Bearing a striking resemblance to the Sikorsky H-5 (purely coincidental) the Yak-100 had a conventional main and anti-torque rotor configuration, driven by an Ivchenko AI-26GRFL. The pilot and crewman/passenger sat under a long greenhouse style canopy, enjoying very good visibility.

Flight trials progressed quickly, with the almost ubiquitous vibration being tackled by moving the centre of gravity of the main rotor blades behind their flexural axes. Manufacturers trials were completed in June 1950, with successful State acceptance trials following later that year.

Although successful in trials, the Yak-100 was not put into production because the equally successful Mi-1 had already been prepared for production before the Yak-100 had completed acceptance trials. The second prototype had 3 seats as well as other minor improvements.