Yakovlev Ya-19
| Company type | Aircraft prototype |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation |
| Founded | 1930s |
| Founder | Oleg K. Antonov (design leadership) |
| Products | Light transport aircraft |
The Yakovlev Ya-19—also known as the S-19 or AIR-19—was a five-seat light transport aircraft derived directly from the Yakovlev UT-3 during the late 1930s. Although flight testing yielded favorable outcomes, the Ya-19 never advanced to mass production. This was primarily due to the halted development of the UT-3 and the cancellation of the Voronezh MV-6 engine project, both influenced by shifting priorities prompted by the onset of the Great Patriotic War.
Design and development
Conceived as an evolution of the Yakovlev UT-3, the Ya-19 was designed under the leadership of Oleg K. Antonov to serve as a light transport accommodating five seats.
The aircraft combined the UT-3’s wings, landing gear, tail assembly, and engines with a newly designed fuselage featuring seating for one pilot and four passengers. Entry to both cockpit and cabin was provided via a door located on the port side near the wing’s trailing edge. Inside, four passengers were seated two on each side within the cabin, while an additional passenger occupied a seat beside the pilot in the cockpit.
In 1940, Aeroflot expressed interest in deploying the Ya-19 for short-distance routes; however, escalating Soviet rearmament efforts restricted production to a single prototype. The limited manufacturing run was further impacted by the UT-3’s inability to reach full-scale production.
A variant configured as an ambulance was also proposed for use by the VVS, capable of transporting two stretchers, one ambulatory wounded individual, and a medical attendant. Although a mock-up received approval from a review commission, actual production depended on ongoing development of both the UT-3 and Ya-19 models, which was ultimately suspended due to wartime demands.
The usage of the AIR-19 designation was likely minimal or nonexistent since the AIR prefix was abandoned following A.I. Rykov's purge during Stalin’s political repressions.
Operational history
The only prototype successfully concluded the manufacturer's evaluation in October 1939 before being transferred to the NII GVF (Nauchno-Issledovatel'skiy Institut Grazdahnskovo Vozdooshnovo Flota – scientific testing institute for the civil air fleet) for official state acceptance trials, which it passed with favorable outcomes. The subsequent disposition of this prototype remains unknown.