The Yakovlev Yak-18 (Russian: ??-18, also transcribed as Jak-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.
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.
1977 Yakovlev Yak-18T
C-FJAQ (sn 7201014)
Photo taken August 19, 2006
CAU3 - Oliver Airport, BC Canada
Photo
© AirplaneMart.com
|
|
1977 Yakovlev Yak-18T
C-FJAQ (sn 7201014)
Cockpit view of this russian build single engine airplane.
Picture taken August 19, 2006
CAU3 - Oliver Airport, BC Canada
Photo
© AirplaneMart.com
|
|
Operational history
The Yak-18 became the standard trainer for Air Forces flying schools and DOSAAF, is in wide use in China, and in many other countries.
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 - Two-seat primary trainer aircraft, powered by a 260-hp Zhuzhou Huosai HS-6 radial piston engine. Chinese production version.
- Nanchang CJ-6A - Two-seat primary trainer aircraft, powered by a 285-hp Zhuzhou Huosai HS-6A radial piston engine. Improved version of the CJ-6.
- Nanchang CJ-6B - Two-seat armed border patrol aircraft, powered by a 300-hp Zhuzhou Huosai HS-6D radial piston engine. Small number built.
- Nanchang BT-6 - Export designation of the CJ-6 and CJ-6A.
- Nanchang Haiyan (Petrel) - Civil agricultural aircraft. Used for topdressing and aerial spraying.
- Nanchang Haiyan A - Haiyan Prototype. First flew on the 17th of August 1985.
- Nanchang Haiyan B - Single-seat fire-fighting, agricultural topdressing and aerial spraying aircraft, fitted with an upgraded 345-hp Zhuzhou Huosai HS-6 radial piston engine.
- Nanchang Haiyan C - Two-seat civilian patrol and observation aircraft.
Operators
- Albania
- Algeria
- Bangladesh
- Bulgaria
- Cambodia
- China: see also Nanchang CJ-6
- Czechoslovakia
- East Germany
- Egypt
- Guinea
- Hungary
- Iraq
- Laos
- Mali
- Mongolia
- North Korea
- Poland
- Romania
- Somalia
- Soviet Union
- Syria
- Turkmenistan
- Vietnam
- Yemen
- Zambia
Specifications (Yakovlev 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)
|
|
