Yakovlev UT-1

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The Yakovlev UT-1 (Russian: УТ-1) was a single-seater trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force from 1937 until the late 1940s.

1 History
2 Variants
3 Description
4 Operators
5 Specifications (UT-1)
6 Related content

[edit] History

The UT-1 was designed as a single-seater advanced trainer and aerobatic plane, supplementing the UT-2 two-seater primary and advanced trainer. It was very similar to the UT-2 in construction and appearance, but it was smaller. The new plane, just as the UT-2, was designed by Yakovlev's team. The first prototype, designated the AIR-14, was flown in 1935.

After some changes, the AIR-14 was accepted for a production. Among other improvements, the radial engine Shvetsov M-11 (75 kW, 100 hp) was changed to a stronger M-11G (86 kW, 115 hp). The plane received the designation UT-1, which was an abbreviation of: uchebno-trenirovochnyi (учебно-тренировочный) - "primary/advanced trainer" (despite this designation, it was not suitable for primary training).

The UT-1 was used as a transitional plane between the UT-2 and fighters like I-16. It was an aircraft difficult to fly, unsuitable for beginners, but easier than the I-16. In 1939, the plane was modified by moving the engine 26 cm (10 in) forward, which improved its handling. During production, the M-11E engine (112 kW, 150 hp) was also used. Soviet pilots broke several records on the UT-1 before the war, some on its floatplane variant. In total, 1,241 aircraft were built between December 1936 and 1940.

During World War II, from 1941, the UT-1 was also used for reconnaissance tasks. Some aircraft were used as improvised combat machines, after fitting with underwing machine guns or even 2 unguided rockets. In February 1942, about 50 UT-1 were converted in workshops as improvised ground attack planes UT-1B (УТ-1б), fitted with two machineguns and 2-4 rockets. They were next used in the Black Sea Fleet aviation in Sevastopol and Caucasus. The remaining ones were disarmed in December 1942.

[edit] Variants

Experimental variants:

AIR-15 (UT-15) - race plane, tested in 1938 by TsAGI
AIR-18 - UT-1 with a Renault Bengali 4 inline engine (104 kW, 140 hp) and closed canopy, not produced serially
AIR-21 (Ya-21, UT-21) - the AIR-18 with Renault Bengali 6 (164 kW, 220 hp) engine, tested in 1938-39

[edit] Description

Mixed construction (metal and woooden) monoplane, conventional in layout, with low-wings, canvas covered. An open pilot cab. 5 cylinder M-11 radial engine, two-blade fixed pitch propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear with massive aerodynamic covers. In winter it could operate on skis.