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Yak Corporation

Moscow machine-building plant 
"Skorost (Speed)" named after A.S.Yakovlev
Yak Corporation 
Yakovlev Design Bureau
Yak Aircraft Corporation

During World War II, Yakovlev produced more Soviet fighters than any other company. One of the Soviet Union's most successful aircraft designers, Yakovlev was best known for his piston-engined fighters, sports planes, and the first Soviet all-weather jet fighter. Yak Aircraft Corporation has also built the world's only supersonic VTOL fighter, the Yak-141. Other current aircraft include the Yak-130 Advanced Trainer, the Yak-42 and Yak-40 transports, the Yak-54 aerobatic aircraft, and the "Bumblebee" unmanned aircraft.

The Development Design Bureau founded by A.S.Yakovlev is a really research enterprise: for its lifetime it had produced more than 200 types and modifications of flying vehicles and over 100 of them were in serial production. Beginning from 1932 Design Bureau aircraft are in permanent serial production and operation. For 70 years of activity there were produced 70 000 aircraft "Yak" This is the most number in Russian aircraft industry. During World War II 40,000 "Yak" aircraft were delivered to the front.

Alexandr Sergeevich Yakovlev - General designer of aircraft, academician of Academy of Science of the USSR, colonel-general, twice Hero of Labor, laureate of Lenin and seven State prizes. Was born on 1 of April of 1906 in Moscow. In 1919-1922 was working as a messenger and was studying in school at the same time. Beginning from 1922 participated in flying air models construction at school club. Form 1923 he is an activist of well known in Russia aviation societies: ODVF, Aviachim and Osoaviachim. Yakovlev A.S. - is one of the pioneers of the soviet mass aircraft modelling, gliding and sport aviation. He had built his first prize winner glider AVF-10 in 1924; light aircraft AIR-1 - in 1927 that set first world records under U.I. Piontkovsky piloting. The maiden flight of AIR-1 on 12 of May of 1927 is considered to be Yakovlev Design Bureau birthday.

In 1924 he voluntarily jointed the Red Army and was on military service in Zhukovsky Academy as an aircraft fitter. He entered Zhukovsky Academy and was its student in period OF 1927-31 and at the same time was building light aircraft with a team of designers and workers. In 1931 he headed the group of light aviation at plant #39 and in 1934 was promoted to the head of designing and production bureau of "Spetsaviatrest". The plant was created on the basis of "light aviation group" headed by A.S. Yakovlev. In 1934 the group split from Moscow Aviation Plant #39 named after V.R.Menzhinski.

In 1935 -1956 A.S.Yakovlev was the Chief Designer of Design Bureau at plant #115 and Director of this plant at the same time until 1952. During the World War II he was appointed (1940 - 1946) by the Deputy of Aviation Minister. From 1956 A.S.Yakovlev was the General Designer until 1984 when he had retired. During his activity he combined jobs of chief designer of aviation plants ?47 (1934), #464 (1947), chairman of Ministry of Aviation Industry scientific board (1947-1949), Head of Moscow Aviation Institute Aircraft Design Department (1945, 1959), chairman of aviation magazine editorial board (1942-1947), Supreme Soviet Deputy (1946-1986).

For 60 years of creative activity A.S.Yakovlev was at the headed of nearly 200 aircraft projects of different types and modifications and 100 of them were produced serially. Among them: the liaison aircraft AIR-6 (1932), the most speedy soviet aircraft AIR-7 (332 km/h, 1932) and BB-22 (567 km/h, 1939); the first mass monoplane trainers UT-2 (1932) and UT-1 (1936); key World War II fighters Yak-1, Yak-7, Yak-9, Yak-3 and dozens of their modifications (1940-1946) that constituted two thirds of Soviet fighters fleet in the War. Yakovlev was one of the pionees of jet aviation in the USSR.

Under his leadership there were developed serial combat jets: Yak-15 (1946) - the first soviet jet fighter that entered field service; Yak-25 (1952) - the first all-weather interceptor; Yak-27R (1958)- the first supersonic reconnaissance aircraft; Yak-28 - the first soviet front bomber and interceptor and many other versions; short take-off vertical landing aircraft (STOVL): Yak-36 (1964) - the first soviet STOVL and Yak-38 (1972) - the first in the world deck STOVL; the most load-lifting landing troops serial vehicles - Yak-14 glider (1948) and Yak-24 helicopter (1952); popular trainers Yak-11 (1945), Yak-18 (1946), Yak-18T (1967), Yak-52 (1974); light general aviation aircraft Yak-12 (1947); aerobatic aircraft Yak-18P, PM,PS, Yak-50, Yak-55 (1960-1981) that were flown by the soviet pilots and won 69 first prizes at the World and Europeans aerobatic championships.

A variety of trends were typical for the Design Bureau, namely: light airplanes (since 1927), combat airplanes (since 1939), helicopters (1945-60) and dropping airplanes (1948-49). The first specialized passenger airplane of the DB was a six-seat airplane with two engines Ya-19 (Ya-19, 1939) that was created on the basis of the UT-3, bomber. The series four-seat headquarters airplane Yak-6 (1942) was also the basis for creation of a six-seat passenger Yak-8 (1944). In 1947 the Yak-16 with capacity of 10 passengers was successfully tested. All these airplanes were destined as comparatively short distance airplanes. Their design is extremely light, simple and easy in service.

These design features are also typical for Yak-40 (1966), the first passenger jet of the DB, which was designed for domestic flights as a comfortable and speedy jetplane. The Yak-40 was the first in the world regional jet and the only soviet aircraft that was certified according to western airworthiness requirement and was bought by Italy, German and other countries and the most economical native regional airliner. The 120-seat Yak-42 (1975) with three turbojet engines had the same design and was destined for short range and domestic flights. Since 1934, when the Yak airplanes were put into series production, they became numerous in production and in operation. All in all 70,000 airplanes have been built with more than 100 types and modifications.

A.S.Yakovlev created his specific school in aircraft construction that is characterized by high design culture including weight economy, simplicity of design solutions and breadth of innovative thinking. A.S.Yakovlev was awarded by: 10 Lenin orders, October revolution order, 2 Red Banner orders, Suvorov order 1-st and 2-d degree, 2 Patriotic War orders 1-st degree, Labor Red Banner order and Red Star order, medals, French orders - Officer of a Legion of Honour and Military crux (1939-1945), FAI aviation golden medal. A.S.Yakovlev died on 22 of August of 1989 and buried at Novodevichie cemetery in Moscow.

The Yak Aircraft Corporation is now a privatized Russian aviation corporation. The current Yakovlev organization is now much smaller than it was in WWII. However, the company retains a full capability for design, development, experimental production, and serial production of very sophisticated aerospace products. Yakovlev has associated production facilities in Smolensk, Saratov, and Irkutsk.

In September 2003 it was announced that Corporation Irkut (established on the base of the Irkutsk aviation association) would merge with the Yakovlev design bureau. The talks between Irkut and Yakovlev became one of the most interesting and unexpected events of the Moscow air show. But Joint sto?k company (JSC) "A.S.Yakovlev Design Bureau" remained a public corporation. The shareholders are work collectives members, nonworker pensioners - company's veterans, and some private organizations.

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