Soviet Union's Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter
Photos
Yakovlev Yak-9D fighter in a Guards unit over Sevastopol3: |
Yakovlev Yak-9DD fighter: |
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Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter: |
Yakovlev Yak-9 fighter: |
Design
The Yakovlev Yak-9 was based on the Yak-7B.5 The wings were made larger so they could hold more fuel to increase the range.5
The Yakovlev Yak-9 had a welded steel fuselage with wooden wings.1
By 1944 the Yak-9 outnumbered all other Soviet fighters combined.1
Engine
A larger oil cooler scoop was installed in the nose to facilitate to cooling of the larger oil tank.1
Undercarriage
The Yak-9 had a wide undercarriage which facilitated its use from rough front line fields.1
The tail wheel was retractable.1
Cockpit
The cockpit provided for excellent visibility for the pilot.1
Prototype
The Yak-9U prototype flew in early 1943.1 Was lost in a test flight.1
The Yak-9U prototype first flew in December 1943.4
Production
One factory was able to produce 20 Yak-9s a day.1
- Yakovlev Yak-9P/U: ~3,9004
- Total: 8,7212, 16,7694
- Manufacturer: State Industries5
Variants
- Yakovlev Yak-9:
- Yakovlev Yak-9B: Fighter bombing.2,3,4 Could carry up to 880 lb5 / 882 lb / 400 kg of bombs.2 These were carried in vertical tubes behind the cockpit.4
- Yakovlev Yak-9D: Long range version.1,2,3,4 Delivered in May 1943.4
- Yakovlev Yak-9DD: Very long range.2,3,4 Had fuel capacity increased to 233 gallons / 880 liters.1
- Yakovlev Yak-9K: Close support and anti-tank.4 45 mm cannon.4 Cockpit was moved back to move the center of gravity to the rear to compensate for the cannon.4
- Yakovlev Yak-9M: Added a machine gun.5
- Yakovlev Yak-9MPV0: Night fighter.4
- Yakovlev Yak-9P: All weather.1 Didn't become available until after World War II.1 Used in the Korean War.5
- Yakovlev Yak-9T: Anti-tank.2,3 Anti-shipping.4 Carried a 37 mm Nudelmann-Suranov5 cannon for anti-tank missions.1,2 Had Klimov VK-105PF inline engine (1,260 HP).2,3 Cockpit was moved back to move the center of gravity to the rear to compensate for the cannon.4
- Yakovlev Yak-9U: All metal.1,5 Became operational in late 1944.1 Wing moved forward.4 More aerodynamic.5
- Yakovlev Yak-9UV: Two seat trainer.4
Usage
Yak-9s were used by pilots from France, Poland, and the Soviet Union.4,5
German units were under orders to avoid the Yak-9 in a dogfight whenever possible.1
The Yak-9 became operational in August 1942.5 Units started to receive the Yak-9 in August 1942 which made it available for the Battle of Stalingrad.1,4
Bulgaria
A batch of Yak-9s was supplied to Bulgaria in late 1944.1
Korean War
The Yak-9s saw service in the Korean War starting in June 1950.4
Specifications
| Yakovlev Yak-94 | Yakovlev Yak-9D1,4,5 | Yakovlev Yak-9U2,3,4,5 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter4, fighter bomber4 | Fighter1,5 | Fighter2,3 |
| Crew | 14 | 11,5 | 12,3 |
| Engine (Type) | Klimov M-105PF-14 | Klimov VK-105PF-1 piston1 Klimov M-105PF5 Klimov M-105PF-34 |
Klimov M.107A5 VK-107A piston1,2,3 |
| OR | Klimov M-105PF-24 | ||
| OR | Klimov M-105PF-34 | ||
| OR | Klimov M-107A4 | ||
| Cylinders | V 124 | V 125 | Inline2 |
| Cooling | Liquid1,5 | ||
| HP | F-1: 1,2604 F-2: 1,3004 F-3: 1,3604 A: 1,6504 |
1,2601,5 | 1,6501,2,3 |
| Propeller blades | 34 | 31 | |
| Fuel capacity | 172 gallons1 650 liters1 |
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| Dimensions | |||
| Span | 31' 11"1, 31' 11.5"4, 32' 10"5 9.74 m1,4 |
32' 0.6"3, 32' 9.75"2 9.77 m3, 10 m2 |
|
| Length | 27' 10"1, 28' 0.75"4, 28' 1"5 8.5 m1, 8.55 m4 |
28' 0.6"3, 28' 6.5"2 8.55 m3, 8.7 m2 |
|
| Height | 8'5, 8' 6"1, 9' 10"4 2.6 m1, 3 m4 |
8'2,3 2.44 m2,3 |
|
| Wing area | 185 ft2 1 17.15 m2 1 |
185.7 ft2 3 17.25 m2 3 |
|
| Weight | |||
| Empty | 5,324 lb1 2,420 kg1 |
5,093 lb2, 5,100 lb4, 5,677 lb3 2,310 kg2, 2,313 kg4, 2,575 kg3 |
|
| Loaded | 6,850 lb1, 6,867 lb5 3,115 kg1 |
6,830 lb3, 6,988 lb4, 6,989 lb2 3,098 kg3, 3,170 kg2,4 |
|
| Performance | |||
| Speed @ sea level | 330 mph1, 332 mph4 533 kph1, 534 kph4 |
367 mph4, 415 mph2 590 kph4, 670 kph2 |
|
| Speed @ 10,170' / 3,100 m |
374 mph4 602 kph4 |
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| Speed @ 11,480' | 373 mph5 | ||
| Speed @ 12,000' / 3,650 m |
370 mph1 597 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
435 mph3 700 kph3 |
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| Speed @ 17,875' | 437.5 mph5 | ||
| Speed @ 18,700' / 5,700 m |
418 mph4 672 kph4 |
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| Speed @ 22,640' / 6,900 m |
435 mph2 700 kph2 |
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| Climb | 4,528'/minute4, 4,920'/minute2 1,380 m/minute4, 1,500 m/minute2 |
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| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
6 minutes4 | 3.8 minutes3 | |
| Service ceiling | 32,800'5, 33,000'1, 34,775'4 10,000 m1, 10,600 m4 |
35,925'2, 39,040'3 10,950 m2, 11,900 m3 |
|
| Range | 808 miles5, 843 miles1, 870 miles4 1,360 km1, 1,400 km4 |
540 miles3, 609 miles2, 746 miles4 870 km3, 980 km2, 1,200 km4 |
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| Range - operational | 824 miles1 1,329 km1 |
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| Armament | 1: 20 mm5 1: MG5 |
2: 12.7 mm UBS MG2,3 | |
| Spinner | 1: 20 mm ShVAK1 120 rounds1 |
1: 23 mm VYa-23V2,3 | |
| Engine cowling | 1: 12.7 mm MG1 200 rounds1 |
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| Nose | 1: 20 mm4 2: 12.7 mm MG4 |
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| Bombs | 441 lb4 200 kg4 |
2: 220 lb2,3 2: 100 kg2,3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- World War II Airplanes Volume 2, Enzo Angelucci, Paolo Matricardi, 1976
