Yakovlev Yak-18

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The Yakovlev Yak-18 (NATO reporting name Max) was a tandem two-seat military primary trainer aircraft. Originally powered by one 160 hp Shvetsov M-11FR-1 radial piston engine, it entered service in 1946.

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A member of the second generation of Russian aircraft designers, and best known for fighter designs, Alexander S. Yakovlev always retained a light aircraft design section. In May 1945, Yakovlev initiated design of the Yak-18 two-seat primary trainer. He designed it to replace the earlier Yakovlev UT-2 and Yak-5 in service with the Soviet Air Forces and DOSAAF (Voluntary Society for Collaboration with the Army, Air Force and Navy, which sponsored aero clubs throughout the USSR). The new aircraft flew a year later, powered by a Shvetsov M-11 five-cylinder radial engine and featuring a retractable tailwheel landing gear. The design proved exceptionally easy to build and maintain, and it continues in production today, 55 years later, in two of its many variants, the four-seat Yak-18T and two-seat Yak-54. The Yak-18 became the standard trainer for Air Forces flying schools and DOSAAF, is in wide use in China, and many other nations have used it.

[edit] Variants

• Yak-18 - The original production version.
• Yak-18A - Re-engined version, powered by a 194-kW (260-hp) Ivchenko AI-14 FR engine. Built in large numbers.
• Yak-18U - This version was built in small numbers, but it had retractable tricycle landing gear.
• Yak-18P (NATO reporting name: Mouse) - Single-seat aerobatic aircraft for use by flying clubs. Adaptation of Yak-18 two-seat trainer.
• Yak-18PM - Aerobatic aircraft.
• Yak-18PS - Aerobatic aircraft with retractable tailwheel.
• Yak-18T - Aeroflot training aircraft. The Yak-18T is also a light passenger transport aircraft, with a 4-seat cabin for one pilot and three passengers.
• Nanchang CJ-5 - The Yak-18 was built under licence in China as the CJ-5.
• Nanchang CJ-6 - Chinese version, which uses a Zhuzhou HS-6 radial piston engine.
• Nanchang Cj-6a - Chinese version, powered by a 285-hp (213-kW) Zhuzhou Huosai radial piston engine.
• Nanchang CJ-6B - Armed border patrol, observation aircraft.
• Nanchang BT-6 - Export designation of the CJ-6 and CJ-6a. The CJ-6 was sold to Albania, Bangladesh, Cambodia, North Korea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Zambia.
• Nanchang Haiyan (Petrel) - Civil agricultural aircraft. Used for topdressing and aerial spraying.
• Nanchang Haiyan A - Prototype.
• Nanchang Haiyan B - Civil fire-fighting, aricultural aircraft.
• Nanchang Haiyan C - Civil patrol and observation aircraft.

[edit] Operators

•  Afghanistan: 14 acquired from 1957 and retired by 2001.
•  Albania
•  Algeria
•  Bangladesh
•  Bulgaria
•  Cambodia
•  China
•  Czechoslovakia
•  East Germany
•  Egypt
•  Guinea
•  Hungary
•  Iraq
•  Laos
•  Mali
•  Mongolia
•  DPR Korea
•  Poland (replaced by the similar indigenous PZL TS-8 Bies)
•  Romania
•  Somalia
•  Soviet Union
•  Syria
•  Turkmenistan
•  Vietnam
•  Yemen
•  Zambia

[edit] Specifications (Yak-18A)

General characteristics

• Crew: two, student and instructor
• Length: 8.35 m (27 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 10.60 m (34 ft 9 in)
• Height: 3.35 m (11 ft 0 in)
• Wing area: 17.8 m² (191 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,025 kg (2,255 lb)
• Loaded weight: kg (lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 1,320 kg (2,904 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Ivchenko AI-14RF radial , 224 kW (300 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 300 km/h (187 mph)
• Range: 700 km (436 miles)
• Service ceiling: 5,060 m (16,596 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)

[edit] External links

• Description page on aviation.ru

[edit] Related content

Related development

Nanchang CJ-6

Comparable aircraft

Zlin Trener - LWD Junak - De Havilland Chipmunk

 

 

 

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.