Yakovlev Yak-12

Yak-12 (Як-12)
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Yak-12 (basic model) at the Polish Aviation Museum
Type	Utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Yakovlev, WSK-Okęcie, Shenyang
Maiden flight	1947
Introduced	1947
Status	In use in civilian aviation
Primary user	Soviet Air Force
Number built	4,992 (without China)
Developed from	Yakovlev Yak-10
Variants	PZL-101 Gawron

The Yakovlev Yak-12' (Russian: Як-12, also Jak-12, NATO reporting name "Creek") is a light multirole STOL aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force, Soviet civilian aviation, and other countries from 1947 onwards.

Design and development

The Yak-12 was designed by Aleksandr Yakovlev's team to meet a requirement of the Soviet Air Force of 1944 for a new liaison and utility plane, to replace the obsolete Po-2 biplane. It was also meant to be used in civil aviation as a successor to Yakovlev's AIR-6 of 1934, built in a relatively small series. Yakovlev's first proposal was a 4-seater high-wing Yak-10 (first named Yak-14), built in January 1945. It won the competition with a low-wing Yak-13, based on the same fuselage, and a series of 40 Yak-10s were produced, powered with a Shvetsov M-11M radial engine (108 kW, 145 hp).

In 1947, Yakovlev developed a new aircraft to replace the Yak-10. This was fitted with a more powerful 119 kW (160 hp) M-11FR radial, a new wing and undercarriage, and a fuselage with a revised shape (lower tail section). The new plane was designated Yak-12, first flying in 1947 . 788 of the basic variant were produced, including military observation planes, some Yak-12S air ambulances, Yak-12SKh agricultural aircraft, and Yak-12GR floatplanes. A distinguishing feature of the basic Yak-12, just like Yak-10, were engine cylinders with individual cowlings. It was a plane of a mixed construction and could take 1 or 2 passengers, apart from a pilot.

File:Jak-12 RB1.jpg

Polish Air Force Yak-12M

The next generation Yak-12 entered production in 1952, starting with the Yak-12R. It was fitted with a new 194 kW (260 hp) Ivchenko AI-14R radial, completely contained within the fuselage, and all-metal construction. The wing area increased (from 21.6 m² to 23.8 m²). This variant had the least wing loading of all Yak-12s and therefore, the best STOL performance (take-off run 52 m, landing 81 m).

After being lengthened to improve weight distribution, with further strengthening of the structure and other minor changes, from 1955 the Yak-12M ("modified") was produced. A visible difference was a lengthened curved tailfin. This variant became more universal, offering a bigger payload. It took a pilot and 3 passengers and could be fitted with twin controls for training, a stretcher for an ambulance role or an agricultural spraying device. It became the most numerous variant.

The last generation, produced from 1957, was the Yak-12A. It was an aerodynamically refined variant, with a slimmer fuselage and a new wing . The cowling was smaller diameter. The rectangular wings were fitted with trapezoidal ends and automatic slats, also single struts replaced twin struts. Navigation equipment and controls were improved, and performance also increased. In the USSR, 3,801 of Yak-12s were built in all models (including 3,013 Yak-12R, M and A). An experimental Yak-12B biplane was also developed, but not produced.

The Yak-12M was licence-built from 1956 in Poland in the WSK-4 Okecie, as the Jak-12M (Polish spelling of Russian name). From 1959, the Yak-12A was built in Poland as the Jak-12A (1,054 Jak-12Ms and 137 Jak-12As), most for export to the USSR. In 1958, further development of the Yak-12M was carried out in Poland, becoming the PZL-101 Gawron.

The Yak-12 was also produced in China as Shenyang type 5.

Operational history

Yak-12s first entered service in the Soviet Air Force as a liaison and artillery observation plane. Then, they were used also in the Soviet civilian aviation - mostly in the DOSAAF aero club for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.

File:Dscf1996.jpg

Polish civilian Yak-12M taking off towing a glider

Apart from the USSR, Yak-12s were used in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (in civilian and military applications), and in Hungary (civilian). Licence-built Shenyangs were used in China and other countries. In some countries, including Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the Russian name was transcribed as Jak-12.

In the Polish Air Force, about 90 Yak-12s were used from 1951, as liaison, patrol and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s. Most were next handed over to civilian aviation. In Poland, the first civil model was acquired in 1952, larger numbers being used from the 1960s (at least 79). They were used mostly in regional aeroclubs for pilot training, parachute training, transport and glider towing. 21 were used as air ambulances.

Some civil Yak-12s (mostly Yak-12A) remain in use in 2006.

Description

Metal construction (Yak-12R, M, A) or mixed construction (Yak-12) braced high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal and canvas covered. Wings fitted with flaps and slats (automatic slats - Yak-12R or fixed - other variants). Four seat cabin (in early variant Yak-12 - 2 or 3 seat). Conventional fixed landing gear with tail wheel.

Single radial engine: 5-cylinder M-11FR (nominal power 104 kW/140 hp, take-off power 118 kW/160 hp) - Yak-12 basic variant; 9-cylinder AI-14R (nominal power 161 kW/220 hp, take-off power 191 kW/260 hp) - Yak-12R, M and A. Two-blade propeller. Two fuel tanks in wings, 225 l (55 US gal) each.

Variants

Yak-12

Basic variant built for military and civilian operators.

Yak-12GR

Floatplane version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12S

Air ambulance version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12SKh

Agricultural version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12R

Improved version of the Yak-12 powered by Ivchenko AI-14R engine and the plane construction became all-metal, built from 1952.

Yak-12M

Main production version with further construction strengthening, a lengthened tailfin and other minor changes, built from 1955.

Yak-12A

Aerodynamically refined version with a slimmer fuselage, engine cover with smaller diameter and some wing modifications, built from 1957.

Yak-12B

Experimental biplane version, not produced.

Shenyang type 5

Yak-12 licence-built in China.

Jak-12M

Yak-12M licence-built in Poland, 1,054 built.

Jak-12A

Yak-12A licence-built in Poland, 137 built.

PZL-101 Gawron

Polish development of the licence-built Yak-12M.

Operators

Military operators

Template:CZS

• Czechoslovakian Air Force

Template:POL

• Polish Air Force operated Yak-12 aircraft (transcribed as Jak-12) since 1951, as liaison, patrol and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s.

Template:USSR

• Soviet Air Force

Template:YUG

• Yugoslavian Air Force

Civil operators

Template:PRC

Template:CZS

Template:Country data Hungary

Template:POL

• Aeroklub Polski since 1952
• Air ambulance service

Template:USSR

• DOSAAF aero club operated Yak-12s for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.

Template:YUG

Specifications (Yak-12M)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 12.6 m (41 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.12 m (10 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 23.8 m² (256 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,026 kg (2,257 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,450 kg (3,190 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Ivchenko AI-14R air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine, 191 kW (260 PS)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 182 km/h (98 knots, 113 mph)
• Cruise speed: 160 km/h (86 knots, 99 mph)
• Range: 765 km (413 nm, 475 mi)
• Service ceiling: 4,169 m (13,675 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s (810 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 61 kg/m² (12 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 130 W/kg (0.082 hp/lb)
• Take-off run: 126 m (413 ft)
• Landing run: 90 m (295 ft)

Specifications (Yak-12A)

General characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 9.0 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 12.6 m (41 ft 4 in)
• Height: 3.12 m (10 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 22.6 m² (243 ft²)
• Empty weight: 1,056 kg (2,328 lb)
• Loaded weight: 1,588 kg (3,501 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Ivchenko AI-14R air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine, 191 kW (260 PS)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 215 km/h (134 mph)
• Cruise speed: 180 km/h
• Range: 1070 km (665 miles)
• Service ceiling: 4,000 m (13,100 ft)
• Rate of climb: 216 m/min (4.6 m/s) (708 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 70 kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.12 kW/kg (0.07 hp/lb)
• Take-off run: 153 m
• Landing run: 131 m

References

• Benedykt Kempski: Samolot wielozadaniowy Jak-12, TBiU nr.90, Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-11-06982-4 (Polish language)

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Yakovlev Yak-12

Related development

• Yakovlev Yak-10
• Yakovlev Yak-13
• PZL-101 Gawron

Comparable aircraft

• Fieseler Fi 156
• Aero L-60 Brigadýr
• Piper PA-20 Pacer
• Cessna 170

External links

• Photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba site.

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 Yak-12".