Yakovlev Yak-18

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Yak-18 (Як-18)

Polish Air Force Yak-18 in the Polish Aviation Museum

Type Training aircraft
Manufacturer Yakovlev, China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
Maiden flight 1946
Introduced 1946
Primary users Soviet Air Force
DOSAAF
People's Liberation Army Air Force
Polish Air Force
Variants Yakovlev Yak-18T
Nanchang CJ-5, Nanchang CJ-6

The Yakovlev Yak-18 (Russian: Як-18, also transcribed as Jak-18, NATO reporting name Max) was a Soviet 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.

Contents

[edit] Design and development

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 CJ 6a, produced in China, is sometimes quoted as a variant but is a completely different aircraft but uses some Yakovlev features such as the undercarriage from the tricycle version of the Yak 11.

[edit] Operational history

The Yak-18 became the standard trainer for Air Force flying schools and DOSAAF, is in wide use in China, and in many other countries.

[edit] Variants

Yak-18T at Borki airfield
Yak-18T at Borki airfield
Yak-18A
Yak-18A
Yak-18, commemorated on the 1986 USSR stamp
Yak-18, commemorated on the 1986 USSR stamp
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.

[edit] Operators

Yak-18 operators
Yak-18 operators
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[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:Ivchenko AI-14RF radial, 224 kW (300 hp)

Performance


[edit] References

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

Related development Nanchang CJ-6
Comparable aircraft Zlin Trener - LWD Junak - De Havilland Chipmunk - Percival Prentice

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