Yakovlev Yak-5

Yakovlev

Industry	Aerospace
Headquarters	Soviet Union

The Yakovlev Yak-5 (Russian: Яковлев Як-5) was a prototype training aircraft created by the Yakovlev design bureau in the Soviet Union and made its maiden flight in 1944.

Development and design

During 1944, the Yakovlev UT-2 served as the primary basic trainer for the Soviet Air Forces, yet its rudimentary design posed challenges for pilots transitioning to more advanced machines. To address this, Yakovlev's design team developed an enhanced version known as the UT-2L, which incorporated features such as an enclosed tandem cockpit, added flaps, and instruments suitable for flying without visual references.

Concurrently, Yakovlev engineered a single-seat fighter-trainer variant derived from the UT-2L platform, designated as the Yak-5. This low-wing wooden monoplane differed from the UT-2 by eliminating the forward cockpit and replacing it with an enclosed sliding canopy over the rear pilot seat. The fixed landing gear of the UT-2 was substituted with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage. Propulsion came from a Shvetsov M-11D five-cylinder radial engine delivering 115 hp (86 kW), which powered a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller. Armament options included a single synchronized ShKAS machine gun aimed via a reflector sight, and the aircraft was also equipped with radio communication equipment.

Operational history

The Yak-5 prototype took to the skies for the first time on 7 September 1944. Test pilots responded favorably to the new fighter-trainer's flight characteristics, and the aircraft successfully completed official trials. Ultimately, neither the UT-2L nor the Yak-5 proceeded to mass production, as Soviet Air Force leadership considered wooden airframes outdated. This assessment led to the decision to produce the fully metal Yakovlev Yak-18 trainer starting in late 1945. The only Yak-5 was lost when its wooden wing failed during a snap roll maneuver, causing a crash.

References

Notes

Sources

• Gordon, Yefim, Dmitry Komissarov and Sergey Komissarov. OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2005.
• Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London: Osprey, 1995.
• Gunston, Bill and Yefim Gordon. Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924. London, UK: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1997.