Yakovlev Yak-9

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-9

The Yakovlev Yak-9 was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Union
in World War II and after. Fundamentally a lighter development of the Yak-7 with
the same armament, it arrived at the front at the end of 1942. The Yak-9 had a
lowered rear fuselage decking and all-around vision canopy. Its lighter airframe
gave the new fighter a flexibility that previous models had lacked. The Yak-9
was the most mass-produced Soviet fighter of all time. It remained in production
from 1942 to 1948, with 16,769 built (14,579 during the war). Towards the end of
the war, the Yak-9 was the first Soviet aircraft to shoot down a Messerschmitt
Me 262 jet. Following World War II it was used by the North Korean Air Force
during the Korean War

Yak-9 variants carried two different wings, five different engines, six
different fuel tank combinations and seven types of armament configurations. In
December 1943, it became possible to install the more powerful M-107 engine on a
new Yak-9U airframe: the engine mounting was new with individual faired exhaust
pipes; fuselage structure and wings were made of metal and the whole aircraft
was covered with a Bakelite skin . Fuel capacity was increased to 400 l (106 US
gal). In order to re-balance the model, the wing was repositioned four inches
forward and in order to improve pitch control, the horizontal tail surfaces were
slightly reduced. The rear part of the canopy was lengthened and the antenna
cable was moved inside it. Usual armament was a 20 mm (0.79 in) ShVAK cannon
with 120 rounds firing through a hollow propeller shaft and a 12.7 mm (0.50 in)
UBS machine gun with 170 rounds.

Role Fighter
National origin Soviet Union
Manufacturer Yakovlev OKB
Designer Alexander Sergeevich Yakovlev
First flight Summer 1942
Introduction October 1942
Primary user Soviet Air Force
Produced 1942–1948
Number built 16,769
Developed from Yakovlev Yak-1

The first Yak-9 entered service in October 1942 and first saw combat in late
1942 during the Battle of Stalingrad. The versatile Yak-9 operated with a wide
variety of armament for use in anti-tank, light bomber and long-range escort
role. At low altitude in which it operated predominantly, the Yak-9 was faster
and more maneuverable than its main foe, the Bf 109, but was far less well
armed. A series of improvements in performance and armament did not hamper the
superb handling characteristics that allowed its pilots to excel at
dog-fighting. Soviet pilots regarded the Yak-9's performance as on the same
level as the Bf 109G and Fw 190A-3/A-4. After the Battle of Smolensk, in the
second half of 1943, the famed Free French Normandie-Niémen unit became a Groupe
and was equipped with the Yak-9. The four flights were named for the towns of
Rouen, Le Havre, Cherbourg and Caen. In June 1944, at the beginning of the great
summer offensive, the French Yak-9s achieved their first air victories, but
suffered their first losses as well, in the Borisov region. On 15 July 1944, the
Group was moved to Mikountani, in Lithuania, while German armies were pushed
back about 400 km (250 mi). The French pilots took their Soviet chief air crews
in the fuselage of the fighters, but during the trip, Lieutenant Maurice de
Seynes' Yak suffered a mechanical failure. The French pilot refused to bail out
and thus abandon his Soviet mechanic Biezoloub, who had no parachute. De Seynes
attempted an emergency landing instead, but both airmen were killed in the
crash.

The first unit to use the Yak-9U, between 25 October and 25 December 1944, was
163.IAP. Pilots were ordered not to use the engine at combat speed since this
reduced its life to two or three flights only. Nevertheless, in the course of
398 sorties, the unit claimed 27 Focke-Wulf Fw 190As and one Bf 109G-2, for the
loss of two Yaks in dogfights, one to flak and four in accidents. The Yak-9U
contributed greatly to Soviet air superiority, and the Germans avoided the Yaks
“without antenna mast”.

Specifications (Yak-9D)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 8.55 m (28 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 17.2 m² (185.1 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,350 kg (5,170 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,117 kg (6,858 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Klimov M-105 PF V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 880 kW (1,180
hp)

Performance
Maximum speed: 597 km/h at altitude (371 mph)
Range: 1,360 km (845 miles)
Service ceiling: 9,100 m (30,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 13.7 m/s (2,690 ft/min)
Wing loading: 181 kg/m² (37 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 280 W/kg (0.17 hp/lb)

Armament
1 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon, 120 rounds
1 × 12.7 mm UBS machine gun, 200 rounds


Specifications (Yak-9U (VK-107))

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 8.55 m (28 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in)
Height: 3.00 m (9 ft 10 in)
Wing area: 17.2 m² (185.1 ft²)
Empty weight: 2,512 kg (5,526 lb)
Loaded weight: 3,204 kg (7,049 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Klimov VK-107A V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 1,120 kW (1,500
hp)

Performance
Maximum speed: 672 km/h at altitude (417 mph)
Range: 675 km (420 miles)
Service ceiling: 10,650 m (35,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 16.7 m/s (3,280 ft/min)
Wing loading: 186 kg/m² (38 lb/ft²)
Power/mass: 350 W/kg (0.21 hp/lb)

Armament
1 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon, 120 rounds
2 × 12.7 mm UBS machine guns, 170 rounds per gun





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