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PROFILE: Yakovlev Yak-3: History

The Yak-3 was a powerful Soviet fighter aircraft that dominated the skies over the Eastern Front in the later years of World War 2. It was lighter and more agile than its predecessor, the Yak-1M, which allowed it to outmaneuver German fighters below 13,000 feet. Over 4,800 Yak-3s were produced between 1943 and 1946. In the 1990s, the original plans and tools were used to produce a new series of Yak-3s, called the Yak-3UA, which are now available for civilian use.

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74 views1 page

PROFILE: Yakovlev Yak-3: History

The Yak-3 was a powerful Soviet fighter aircraft that dominated the skies over the Eastern Front in the later years of World War 2. It was lighter and more agile than its predecessor, the Yak-1M, which allowed it to outmaneuver German fighters below 13,000 feet. Over 4,800 Yak-3s were produced between 1943 and 1946. In the 1990s, the original plans and tools were used to produce a new series of Yak-3s, called the Yak-3UA, which are now available for civilian use.

Uploaded by

Ali Salman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Profile provided by Warbird Alley, with permission of Buck Wyndham

PROFILE: Yakovlev Yak-3


(Variants/Other Names: See History below)

HISTORY:
During the final two years of the Second World War, the Yak-3 proved itself a
powerful dogfighter. Tough and agile below an altitude of 13,000 feet, the Yak-
3 dominated the skies over the battlefields of the Eastern Front during the
closing years of the war.

The first attempt to build a fighter called the Yak-3 was shelved in 1941 due to
a lack of building materials and an unreliable engine. The second attempt used
the Yak-1M, already in production, to maintain the high number of planes
being built. The Yak-3 had a new, smaller wing and smaller dimensions then
its predecessor. Its light weight gave the Yak-3 more agility. The Yak-3
completed its trials in October 1943 and began equipping the 91st IAP in July
of 1944. In August, small numbers of Yak-3s were built with an improved
engine generating 1,700-hp, and the aircraft saw limited combat action in
1945. Production continued until 1946, by which time 4,848 had been built.

The story of the Yak-3 did not end with the Second World War. In 1991, the
Museum of Flying, in Santa Monica, California, asked Yakovlev to produce a
new series of Yak-3s to be built at Orenburg, Russia. The new Yak-3s were
built using the plans, tools, dies and fixtures of the original. They were
powered by American Allison engines, and given the designation Yak-3UA.
These aircraft are now available on the civilian market. [History by David MacGillivray]

NICKNAMES:
Ubiytsa ("Killer"); Ostronosyi ("Sharp-Nose" -- Generic term for all inline-
engine powered Yak fighters).

SPECIFICATIONS:
Engine: One 1,300-hp Klimov VK-105PF-2 V-12 piston engine
Weight: Empty 4,641 lbs., Max Takeoff 5,864 lbs.
Wing Span: 30ft. 2.25in.
Length: 27ft. 10.25in.
Height: 7ft. 11.25in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed: 407 mph
Ceiling: 35,105 ft.
Range: 559 miles
Armament:
One engine-mounted 20-mm ShVAK cannon
Two 12.7-mm (0.5-inch) UBS machine guns

NUMBER BUILT: 4,848 (Original 1940s-era models)

NUMBER STILL AIRWORTHY: At least 5 newly-manufactured


aircraft.

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