Yakovlev Yak-18T

Yak-18T
	Yak-18T (1999 example)
Role	Training aircraft
Designer	Yakovlev
First flight	1967
Introduction	1967
Primary users	Aeroflot; Soviet Air Force
Number built	750+
Variants	Technoavia SM-94

The Yakovlev Yak-18T (Russian: Яковлев Як-18T) is a four- or five-seat fully aerobatic utility aircraft. Introduced to train Aeroflot pilots, it has gained some popularity as a sportplane both inside and outside the former USSR. It is powered by a 268-298 kW (360-400 hp) Vedeneyev M14P radial engine, and is designed for stresses of +6.48/-3.24 g.

Design and development

All the Yak-18 and Yak-18T have in common is the model number. The Yak-18T is a unique design, despite its nomenclature.

The 18T was designed in the late 60's, as a civilian aircraft. The aircraft has a nosewheel, is a four- or five-seater, and has a nine-cylinder 360 hp radial. The Yak-18T shares systems with the Yak-50/52 family. These aircraft all have the 265 kW (355 hp) Vedneyev M14 nine-cylinder radial engine as well as the same underlying compressed-air system for engine starting, brakes, undercarriage and flaps. The propeller, avionics and other parts are also shared. The Yak-18T, like all Russian aircraft used for training, is aerobatic.

Compared with other four-seat light aircraft such as the Cessna 172 or the Piper PA-28, the Yak-18T is only a little wider and longer but it is much heavier and is equipped with a considerably more powerful engine. The Yak-18T is perhaps better compared with the Piper Saratoga which has two extra seats but which has a similar maximum weight, together with a retractable undercarriage and a similarly powerful engine. The Yak-18T is, however, distinguished by its strong construction, aerobatic capability and docile yet responsive handling characteristics.

The Yak-18T prototype had its first flight in mid-1967 and subsequently the type was placed in series production in Smolensk.

Operational history

The Yak-18T went on to become the standard basic trainer with Aeroflot flight schools, while small numbers also entered service with the Soviet Air Force as liaison and communications aircraft. After approximately 700 were built, many for Aeroflot, production ceased in the late 1980s, to be resumed in 1993.^[1] In 2011 it was claimed that the type remained in small-scale production by the Yakolev Design Bureau,^[2] although apparently none had been produced in more than a decade.

Technoavia has marketed the SM94, its own development of the Yak-18T featuring curved front glass, larger capacity fuel tanks and choice of avionics package, but production is dependent on orders being placed.^[3]

Operators

Armenia

Armenian Air Force^{[citation needed]}

Cuba

Cuban Air Force - Former operator.

Kazakhstan

Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan - at least four units in service seen in 2008^{[citation needed]}

Moldova

Moldova Air Force - one aircraft in active service for basic training

Lithuania

Lithuanian National Defence Volunteer Forces

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Air Force and Anti-Aircraft Defence of Bosnia and Herzegovina - one aircraft in colors of Republika Srpska ^{[citation needed]}

Soviet Union

Specifications (Yak-18T)

Standard a/c i.e. with 360 hp M14P engine

General characteristics

Crew: one or two, student and instructor
Capacity: max five occupants, two or three in the back but subject to CoG limitations
Aspect ratio: 6.62:1
Airfoil: Clark YHweight limit 1,510 kg for aerobatics

Performance

References

Notes

^ "Yakovlev Yak-18T". Airliners.net. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
^ Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 170. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X
^ "The Yakolev Yak-18T." airliners.net, 2009. Retrieved: 4 April 2009.

Bibliography

Gordon, Yefim, Dmitriy Komissarov and Sergey Komissarov. OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and Its Aircraft. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2005. ISBN 978-1-85780-203-0.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Brassey's World Aircraft & Systems Directory 1999/2000. London:Brassey's, 1999. ISBN 1-85753-245-7.
"EASA Specific Airworthiness Specification for Yakovlev Yak-18T issue 2" (PDF).

External links

[1] "Yakovlev Yak-18T". Airliners.net. Retrieved 2012-12-22.

[WDLA11-2] Bayerl, Robby; Martin Berkemeier; et al: World Directory of Leisure Aviation 2011-12, page 170. WDLA UK, Lancaster UK, 2011. ISSN 1368-485X

[3] "The Yakolev Yak-18T." airliners.net, 2009. Retrieved: 4 April 2009.

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v t e Yakovlev aircraft
Early aircraft	AVF-10 AVF-20 AVF-34 AIR-1 AIR-2 AIR-3 AIR-4 AIR-5 AIR-6 AIR-7 AIR-8 AIR-9 AIR-10 AIR-11 AIR-12 AIR-14 AIR-15 AIR-16 AIR-17 AIR-18 Ya-1 Ya-2 Ya-3 Ya-4 Ya-6 Ya-7 Ya-10 Ya-19 Ya-20 Ya-21 Ya-22 Ya-23
Fighters	Yak-1 Yak-3 Yak-7 Yak-9 Yak-15 Yak-17 Yak-23 Yak-25 (II) Yak-28 Yak-38
Bombers	Yak-2 Yak-4 Yak-28 Yak-35
Transports	Yak-6 Yak-10 Yak-12 Yak-14 Yak-18T Yak-40 Yak-42 Yak-58 Yak-112 Yak-242 (MC-21)
Reconnaissance	Yak-25 Yak-27 Pchela
Helicopters	Yak-24 Yak-100
Trainers	UT-1 UT-2 UT-3 UT-15 UT-21 UT-23 Yak-7 Yak-11 Yak-17 Yak-18 Yak-20 Yak-21 Yak-28 Yak-30 (II) Yak-32 Yak-50 (II) Yak-52 Yak-53 Yak-54 Yak-55 Yak-130 Yak-152 Yak-200 Yak-210
Experimental	EG Yak-5 Yak-8 Yak-13 Yak-16 Yak-19 Yak-25 (I) Yak-26 Yak-30 (I) Yak-36 Yak-41 Yak-43 Yak-44 Yak-45 Yak-46 Yak-50 (I) Yak-60 Yak-140 Yak-141 Yak-201 Yak-1000