Yakovlev UT-2

UT-2
Role Trainer/Fighter-trainer
National origin USSR
Manufacturer Yakovlev
Designer Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev
First flight 11 July 1937 - Ya-20
Number built 7,243
Developed from AIR-10, Ya-20

The Yakovlev UT-2 (Russian: УТ-2, NATO reporting name "Mink") was a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force from 1937 until the 1950s. It was the standard Soviet trainer during World War II.

Development

The UT-2 was designed as a trainer, more suitable for training pilots of modern and fast aircraft than the older U-2 (Po-2) biplane. The new plane was designed by Yakovlev's team at OKB-115. The next design, AIR-10, was based upon the AIR-9, but it was simpler, with two separate open cockpits, and lacking slats and flaps. It was flown on 11 July 1935. The AIR-10 won the competition with other trainer designs in 1935 and, after changes, was accepted as the standard Soviet Air Force trainer. A temporary designation for this plane became Ya-20 (Я-20). This is just because of the original AIR was the abbreviated name of Alexey Ivanovich Rykov, a communist leader executed in 1938; Yakovlev changed names of his aircraft to the politically safe Ya. The mixed construction (wood and metal) of the AIR-10 was changed to wooden only, to simplify production. A prototype used the 112 kW (150 hp) Shvetsov M-11E radial, but production aircraft used 82 kW (110 hp) M-11Gs. Serial production started in September 1937. The plane was given the designation UT-2 (uchebno-trenirovochnyi {учебно-тренировочный}, primary/advanced trainer).

The UT-2 was used also by civilian aviation. However, it soon demonstrated it was not easy to fly, with a tendency to spin. After some changes to its construction, the plane became safer and was fitted with a 93 kW (125 hp) M-11D, as the UT-2 model 1940.

To improve handling and stability, a new UT-2M (modernized) variant was developed in 1941 and put into production. The shape of wings was totally new, with a swept leading edge instead of a straight one (the wing's trailing edge was now straight), and the tailfin was larger.

In total, 7,243 UT-2 and -2Ms were produced in five factories between 1937 and 1946. Despite all improvements, the handling and flight characteristics of the UT-2 were never excellent. In the 1950s they were replaced with the Yak-18 as a primary trainer and the Yak-11 as an advanced trainer. After the war, the UT-2 and -2M were also used by countries like Poland and Hungary.

Variants

Yakovlev UT-2

Operators

 France
 Hungary
 Poland
 Mongolia
 Romania
 Soviet Union
 Yugoslavia

Specifications (UT-2, 1940 standard)

Data from Gordon 2005, and Gunston 1995

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

Notes

  1. ↑ V.B. Shavrov. History of aircraft construction in USSR (1938-1950),

References

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