Yakovlev Yak-18

Yak-18 (Як-18)
275px
Polish Air Force Yak-18 in the Polish Aviation Museum
Type	Training aircraft
Manufacturer	Yakovlev, China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, China Nanchang Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation
Maiden flight	1946
Introduced	1946
Primary users	Soviet Air Force DOSAAF People's Liberation Army Air Force Polish Air Force
Variants	Yakovlev Yak-18T Nanchang CJ-5, Nanchang CJ-6

The Yakovlev Yak-18 (Russian: Як-18, also Jak-18, NATO reporting name Max) was a Soviet 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 radial 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.

Operational history

The Yak-18 became the standard trainer for Air Force flying schools and DOSAAF, is in wide use in China, and in many other countries.

Variants

File:Yakovlev Yak-18T.jpg

Yak-18T at Borki airfield

File:Yakovlev Yak-18A.jpg

Yak-18A

File:Yak-18A.jpg

Yak-18A

File:Yak-18T.jpg

Yak-18T

File:Yak-18 USSR stamp.png

Yak-18, commemorated on the 1986 USSR stamp

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

File:World operators of the Yak-18.png

Yak-18 operators

• Template:Country data AFG: 14 acquired from 1957 and retired by 2001.
• Template:ALB - 43 (including Chinese CJ-6 variants).
• Template:DZA
• Template:BGD
• Template:BUL
• Template:KHM
• Template:CHN: see also Nanchang CJ-6
• Template:CZS
• Template:DDR
• Template:EGY
• Template:GUI
• Template:HUN
• Template:IRQ
• Template:LAO
• Template:MLI
• Template:MNG
• Template:PRK
• Template:POL
• Template:ROM
• Template:SOM
• Template:USSR
• Template:SYR
• Template:TKM
• Template:VIE
• Template:YEM
• Template:ZAM

Specifications (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)

External links

• Description page on aviation.ru

See also

Related development
Nanchang CJ-6 Comparable aircraft
Zlin Trener - LWD Junak - De Havilland Chipmunk - Percival Prentice

The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru. It has been released under the GFDL by the copyright holder.

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-18".