Yakovlev UT-1

The Yakovlev UT-1 (Russian: УТ-1) was a single-seater trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force from 1937 until the late 1940s.

File:Yak ut 1.jpg

Yakovlev UT-1

History

The UT-1 was designed as a single-seater advanced trainer and aerobatic airplane, supplementing the UT-2 two-seater primary and advanced trainer. It was similar to the UT-2 in construction and appearance, but it was smaller. The new plane, just as the UT-2, was designed by Yakovlev's team. The first prototype, designated the AIR-14, was flown in 1935.

After some changes, the AIR-14 was accepted for production. Among other improvements, the 75 kW (100 hp) Shvetsov M-11 radial was changed to the more powerful 86 kW (115 hp) M-11G. The plane received the designation UT-1 (uchebno-trenirovochnyi {учебно-тренировочный}, primary/advanced trainer); despite this designation, it was not suitable for primary training.

The UT-1 was used as a transitional type between the UT-2 and fighters like the I-16. It was difficult to fly, unsuitable for beginners, but easier than the I-16. In 1939, the plane was modified by moving the engine 26 cm (10 in) forward, which improved its handling. During production, the 112 kW (150 hp) M-11E engine was also used. Soviet pilots broke several records on the UT-1 before the war, some on its floatplane variant. In total, 1,241 aircraft were built between December 1936 and 1940.

During World War II, from 1941, the UT-1 was also used for reconnaissance. Some were used as improvised combat machines, after fitting with underwing machineguns or even 2 unguided rockets. In February 1942, about 50 UT-1 were converted in workshops as improvised ground attack planes UT-1B (УТ-1б), fitted with two machineguns and 2-4 rockets. They were next used in the Black Sea Fleet aviation in Sevastopol and Caucasus. The survivors were disarmed in December 1942.

Variants

Experimental variants:

• AIR-15 (UT-15) - race plane, tested in 1938 by TsAGI
• AIR-18 - UT-1 with a 104 kW (140 hp) Renault Bengali 4 inline engine and closed canopy, not produced serially
• AIR-21 (Ya-21, UT-21) - the AIR-18 with 164 kW (220 hp) Renault Bengali 6 engine, tested in 1938-39

Description

Mixed construction (metal and woooden) fabric-covered low wing tailwheel monoplane, with an open cockpit, 5-cylinder M-11 radial, and two-blade fixed pitch propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear with large aerodynamic covers. In winter it could operate on skis.

Operators

• Template:USSR
  • Soviet Air Force
  • Soviet Naval Aviation
• Template:China as ROC
  • Chinese Nationalist Air Force

Specifications (UT-1)

General characteristics

• Crew: One
• Length: 5.75 m (18 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in)
• Height: 2.34 m (7 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 9.58 m² (103 ft²)
• Empty weight: 420 kg (924 lb)
• Loaded weight: 590 kg (1,298 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: kg (lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Shvetsov M-11G air-cooled radial, 86 kW (115 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 249 km/h (156 mph)
• Range: 670 km (419 miles)
• Service ceiling: 7,120 m (23,354 ft)
• Rate of climb: 444 m/min (1,456 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 61.6 kg/m² (12.6 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.15 kW/kg (0.09 hp/lb)

See also

Related development

• Yakovlev UT-2

Yakovlev aircraft

Fighters: Yak-1 · Yak-3 · Yak-7 · Yak-9 · Yak-15 · Yak-17 · Yak-23 · Yak-25 (II) · Yak-28 · Yak-38

Bombers: Yak-2 · Yak-4 · Yak-28 - Reconnaissance: Yak-25 · Yak-27 · Pchela

Transports: Yak-6 · Yak-8 · Yak-10 · Yak-12 · Yak-14 · Yak-40 · Yak-42 · Yak-112 - Helicopters: Yak-24

Trainers: UT-1 · UT-2 · Yak-7 · Yak-11 · Yak-17 · Yak-18 · Yak-28 · Yak-30 (II) · Yak-32 · Yak-50 (II) · Yak-52 · Yak-54 · Yak-55 · Yak-130

Experimental: Yak-5 · Yak-13 · Yak-19 · Yak-25 (I) · Yak-26 · Yak-30 (I) · Yak-36 · Yak-41 · Yak-43 · Yak-44 · Yak-46 · Yak-50 (I)

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Yakovlev UT-1".