Yakovlev Yak-18
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yak-18 (Як-18) | |
|---|---|
 Polish Air Force Yak-18 in the Polish Aviation Museum |
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| 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.
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[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-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
- Afghan Air Force - 14 acquired from 1957 and retired by 2001.
- Albanian Air Force - 43 (including Chinese CJ-6 variants).
- People's Liberation Army Air Force - see also Nanchang CJ-6
[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] 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.
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