Yakovlev Yak-6

Yak-6
Role Utility
Manufacturer Yakovlev
First flight 1942
Introduction 1942
Retired 1950
Status Retired
Primary user Soviet Air Force
Number built 381


The Yakovlev Yak-6 was a Soviet twin-engined utility aircraft, developed and built during World War II. It was used as a short-range light night bomber and a light transport.

Development

In April 1942, the Yakovlev design bureau was instructed to design a twin-engined utility transport aircraft to supplement smaller single-engined aircraft such as the Polikarpov U-2. The design was required to be simple to build and operate.[1][2] Design and construction work proceeded extremely quickly, with the first prototype Yak-6 flying in June 1942. It passed its state acceptance tests in September that year and was quickly cleared for production.[1]

The Yak-6 was a cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-wood construction with fabric covering. It had a retractable tailwheel undercarriage, with the main wheels retracting rearwards into the engine nacelles. The horizontal tail was braced. It was powered by two 140 hp Shvetsov M-11F radial engines driving two-bladed wooden propellers,[nb 1] with the engine installation based on Yakovlev's UT-2 primary training aircraft. In order to minimise the use of scarce resources, the aircraft's fuel tanks were made of chemical-impregnated plywood rather than metal or rubber. Many Yak-6s were fitted with fixed landing gear.[3][4]

The aircraft appeared in two versions, one as a transport and utility aircraft for the supply of partisans, transport of the wounded, and for liaison and courier services. It could accommodate two crew side-by-side in an enclosed cockpit with capacity to carry four passengers or 500 kg (1,100 lb) or cargo.[4][5] The second version was a light night bomber (designated NBB - nochnoy blizhniy bombardirovshchik - Short Range Night Bomber), capable of carrying up to 500 kg of bombs on racks under the wing centre sections and with a defensive armament of a single ShKAS machine gun in a dorsal mounting.[6] A total of 381 examples were built with production ending in 1943.[7][8]

A few examples of an improved version of the Yak-6 with swept outer wings were flown, with the modified version sometimes known as the Yak-6M.[9][10] The Yak-6M led to the larger Yak-8 which flew in early 1944.[11]

Operational history

The Yak-6 was used with great effect at the front lines in the Great Patriotic War both as a transport and as a bomber, proving popular with its crews, although the potential for the aircraft to enter a spin if overloaded or carelessly handled resulting in production ending in 1943 in favour of the similarly powered Shcherbakov Shche-2. By 1944, most operational units of the VVS had a Yak-6 as a utility aircraft.[10] In the Battle for Berlin, the Yak-6 was fitted with rocket launchers under the wings for ten 82-mm RS-82 missiles for use against ground targets.[12] After the end of the Second World War, some Yak-6s were supplied to allies, while it remained in large scale service with Soviet forces until 1950.[11][12]

Variants

Operators

 France
 Soviet Union
 Mongolia

Specifications (Yak-6 (1943 production))

Data from Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft[11]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Yakovlev intended the Yak-6 to use 190 hp M-12 engines, but these were not available.[2]
  1. 1 2 Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 235.
  2. 1 2 Gunston 1995, p. 467.
  3. ↑ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235–236.
  4. 1 2 Gunston 1995, p. 467–468.
  5. ↑ Alexander 1975, p. 437.
  6. ↑ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 235, 237.
  7. ↑ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 237.
  8. ↑ "History:Serial Production". A.S. Yakovlev Design Bureau. Retrieved 2011-09-26.
  9. ↑ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 238.
  10. 1 2 Donald 1997, p. 915.
  11. 1 2 3 Gunston 1995, p. 468.
  12. 1 2 Alexander 1975, p. 438.
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