Yakovlev Yak-17

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Yak-17

Yak-17 in Central Air Force Museum
Type	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Yakovlev
Maiden flight	June 1947
Introduced	1948
Retired	early 1960s
Primary user	Soviet Air Force
Produced	1948-1949
Number built	430

The Yakovlev Yak-17 (Russian: Як-17 , originally known to US intelligence as the Type-16 and later by the NATO reporting name Feather) was an early Soviet jet fighter, developed from the Yak-15.

Developed in 1947. A prototype designated Yak-15U, converted from Yak-15, first flew in June 1947. Main visible difference was a new tricycle landing gear. In March 1948 it was ordered for series production and its designation was changed to Yak-17. It was first publicly displayed at the Soviet Aviation Day of 1949, at Tushino. Only two variants were built: Yak-17 single-seat fighter and Yak-17UTI two-seat trainer. 430 were built in total, in 1948–1949.

Yak-17, being one of first Soviet jet fighters, had faults, like relatively small speed and range and unreliable engine (based upon the German Junkers Jumo 004), with a complicated starting procedure. On the other hand, its handling was very simple and similar to popular propeller fighters Yak-3 and Yak-9, what made it an excellent transitional machine to jet fighters, especially in a trainer variant.

[edit] Variants

Yak-17UTI (Type-26/Magnet) (also known as Yak-17V)

Two-seat training version first seen at 1949 Soviet Aviation Day, Tushino.

Yak-17UTI in the Polish Aviation Museum

[edit] Users

China, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Poland, Soviet Union.

In the USSR it was used from 1948 to early 1950s.

Poland used 3 Yak-17 (transcribed as Jak-17) and 11 Yak-17UTI (known as Jak-17UTI or Jak-17W), from 1950. They were witdrawn by 1955. The last Jak-17 with civilian markings SP-GLM was used for testing in 1957-1960.