Yakovlev Yak-50

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Yakovlev Yak-50 was an early turbojet interceptor aircraft designed by the Yakovlev OKB in USSR. The Yak-50 designation was later reused for an aerobatic aircraft.

1 Fighter plane
- 1.1 Specifications (Yak-50)
2 Aerobatic plane
3 Related content

[edit] Fighter plane

A February 21, 1949 Sovmin order requested the Yakovlev OKB to design a lightweight interceptor capable of Mach 0.97 at 4,000 m (13,000 ft) and utilizing the Klimov VK-1 engine which first appeared on Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters. The new aircraft flew in July 1949, becoming supersonic (Mach 1.03 at 10,000 m (33,000 ft)) in a shallow dive during one of the test flights. Yak-50 was delivered for government testing in June of 1950. In the course of the evaluation, the aircraft was commended for excellent performance but a number of deficiencies were also noted. In particular, the airbrakes were ineffective, there was significant yaw at transsonic speeds making accurate gunfire impossible, and the aircraft was difficult to land in significant crosswinds. Ultimately, upgraded MiG-17 was selected over Yak-50. Superior performance of the Yak was achieved at the expense of fuel capacity and the advantage was considered insufficient to justify producing two very different airplanes with the same engine.

[edit] Specifications (Yak-50)

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 36 ft 6 in (11.12 m)
Wingspan: 26 ft 3 in (8.01 m)
Height: ()
Wing area: 172.2 ft² (16.0 m²)
Empty weight: 6,787 lb (3,085 kg)
Loaded weight: 9,141 lb (4,155 kg)
Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
Powerplant: 1× Klimov VK-1 centrifugal compressor turbojet, 5,943 lbf (26.5 kN)

Performance

Maximum speed: 696 mph (1,120 km/h)
Range: 528 mi (850 km)
Service ceiling: 52,645 ft (16,050 m)
Rate of climb: 13,380 ft/min (68 m/s)
Wing loading: 53 lb/ft² (260 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.65

Armament

2× 23 mm Nudelman-Rikhter NR-23 cannons, 80 rounds/gun

Image:Yak 50.jpg

[edit] Aerobatic plane

The single seater aerobatic aircraft Yakovlev Yak-50 was an all-metal monoplane with low wing and retractable landing gear with tail wheel. One of the most charismatic aircraft of all time, unfortunately very few are left in the world (approx. 40). Today, they provide the looks and flying qualities, as well as performance of a Second World War Fighter. Lovely handling characteristics; a tough and highly agile airframe - the type was twice World Aerobatic Champion! Used as a military trainer by several countries, it is a genuine war bird.