Yakovlev Yak-50 (1949)
| Industry | Aerospace, defense |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1927 |
| Headquarters | Moscow , Soviet Union |
| Products | Military aircraft, including Yak-50 experimental interceptor |
Yakovlev Yak-50 was an early Soviet experimental turbojet interceptor aircraft developed in 1948 by the Yakovlev design bureau (OKB). This model represented a lengthened adaptation of the Yakovlev Yak-30 (1948), featuring a more robust engine and increased wing sweep angle. Notably, the Yak-50 was the first Yakovlev design to incorporate velosipednoye (bicycle) landing gear, a configuration that became characteristic of subsequent Yakovlev fighters. The designation "Yak-50" was later reassigned to a propeller-driven aerobatic and training aircraft from 1975.
Development and design
On February 21, 1949, the Soviet Council of Ministers issued a directive for Yakovlev OKB to create a lightweight interceptor equipped with radar, capable of all-weather and night operations, and able to reach speeds up to Mach 0.97 at an altitude of 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). The design was to be powered by the Klimov VK-1 engine, originally introduced on the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 and MiG-17 fighters. This engine was a Soviet-produced version of the British Rolls-Royce Nene centrifugal turbojet, initially designated RD-45. Several leading fighter design bureaus developed prototypes to fulfill this specification, including the Lavochkin La-200, Mikoyan-Gurevich I-320, Sukhoi Su-15 (distinct from the later aircraft sharing this name), and the Yak-50. A key distinction was that Yakovlev opted for a single-engine layout, whereas other bureaus chose twin-engine configurations.
Testing
The Yak-50 took its maiden flight on July 15, 1949. During one test flight, pilot Anokhin achieved supersonic velocity, reaching Mach 1.03 while performing a shallow dive at an altitude of 10,000 meters (33,000 feet).
Despite these advancements, none of the prototypes developed under this program were selected for production; instead, an improved version of the MiG-17 was adopted. The velosipednoye landing gear concept introduced on the Yak-50 was subsequently utilized in other Yakovlev fighters such as the Yak-140 and Yak-120, as well as later models like the Yak-25 and Yak-28, where it demonstrated considerable effectiveness.
The Yak-50 was never assigned an ASCC reporting name or USAF designation.
Operators
Specifications
See also
References
- Gunston, Bill. Yakovlev Aircraft since 1924. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1997. ISBN 1-55750-978-6.
