Yakovlev Yak-11

The Yak-11 trainer

Museal Yak-11 of Polish Air Forces

The Yakovlev Yak-11 (NATO reporting name: "Moose", Russian: Як-11) was a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force and other Soviet-influenced air forces from 1947 until 1962.

History

The Yak-11 design was based in large parts on the successful Yak-3 fighter; it became the Soviet Air Force's most widely used trainer aircraft and has sometimes been equated in importance with the T-6 Texan. The first prototype flew on 10 November 1945; the aircraft entered service in 1946. In total, 3,859 aircraft were produced between 1947 and 1956. From 1953, an additional 707 were licence-built in Czechoslovakia under the name LET C-11. Both Yak-11 and C-11 were used in all Warsaw Pact countries, as well as many African, Middle Eastern and Asian countries and Austria.

In 1958, the Yak-11 was to be replaced by the tricycle-geared Yak-11U which was intended as a trainer for jet pilots. However, the U variant was only produced in very small numbers, and the Yak-11 remained in service with the VVS until 1962. A licensed copy of the Yak-11U, the LET C-11U, was also produced in Czechoslovakia in a small series.

Due to its Yak-3 lineage, the Yak-11 has recently seen widespread popularity among warbird enthusiasts. Souped-up versions of the Yak-11 can be frequently seen at air races. About 120 Yak-11s remain in airworthy condition.

Description

Mixed construction (metal and wood) trainer plane. 7 cylinder radial engine with two-blade fixed propeller. Conventional retractable landing gear with fixed tail wheel.

Specifications (Yak-11)

General Characteristics

Crew: Two - student and instructor
Length: 8.50 m (27 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 9.4 m (30 ft 10 in)
Height: 3.28 m (10 ft 5 in)
Wing area: 15.40 m² (166 ft²)
Empty: 1,900 kg (4,189 lb)
Loaded: kg ( lb)
Maximum takeoff: 2,440 kg (5,379 lb)
Powerplant: 1x Shvetsov ASh-21 air-cooled radial engine, 425 kW (570 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 460 km/h (289 mph)
Cruise speed: 370 km/h (230 mph)
Range: 1250 km (795 miles)
Service ceiling: 7,100 m (23,295 ft)
Rate of climb: 8.1 m/s (1,600 ft/min)
Wing loading: 161 kg/m² (32.9 lb/ft²)
Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)

Armament

1x nose-mounted machine gun, either 12.7 mm UBS or 7.62 mm ShKAS
up to 200 kg (440 lb) of bombs on two underwing racks