Yakovlev UT-2

Infobox Aircraft
name = UT-2



caption = Yakovlev UT-2
type = Trainer aircraft
national origin =
manufacturer = Soviet Union
designer =
first flight = 1937
introduction =
retired =
status =
primary user = Soviet Union
more users =
produced =
number built = 7,243
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from = Yakovlev UT-1
variants with their own articles = Yakovlev Yak-18

The Yakovlev UT-2 ( _ru. УТ-2) was a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force from 1937 until the 1950s. It was a standard Soviet trainer during the World War II.

History

The UT-2 was designed as a modern trainer plane, more suitable for training pilots of modern and fast aircraft, than the older U-2 (Po-2) biplane. The new plane was designed by Yakovlev's team. The first attempt was the AIR-9 of 1933 - a low-wing monoplane with a closed cockpit, but it was considered too complicated for a primary trainer. The next design, AIR-10, was based upon the AIR-9, but it was simpler, with two separate open cockpits, and lacking slats and flaps. It was flown on July 11, 1935. The AIR-10 won the competition with other trainer designs in 1935 and, after changes, was accepted as the standard Soviet Air Force trainer. A temporary designation for this plane became Ya-20 (Я-20). This is just because of the original "AIR" was the abbreviated name of Alexey Ivanovich Rykov [http://hronos.km.ru/biograf/rykov.html] , a communist leader executed in 1938; Yakovlev changed names of his aircraft to the politically safe "Ya". The mixed construction (wood and metal) of the AIR-10 was changed to wooden only, to simplify production. A prototype used the 112 kW (150 hp) Shvetsov M-11E radial, but production aircraft used 82 kW (110 hp) M-11Gs. Serial production started in September 1937. The plane was given the designation UT-2 ("uchebno-trenirovochnyi" {учебно-тренировочный}, primary/advanced trainer).

The UT-2 was used also by civilian aviation. However, it soon demonstrated it was not easy to fly, with a tendency to spin. After some changes to its construction, the plane became safer and was fitted with a 93 kW (125 hp) M-11D, as the UT-2 model 1940.

To improve handling and stability, a new UT-2M (modernized) variant was developed in 1941 and put into production. The shape of wings was totally new, with a swept leading edge instead of a straight one (the wing's trailing edge was now straight), and the tailfin was larger.

In total, 7,243 UT-2 and -2Ms were produced in five factories between 1937 and 1946. Despite all improvements, the handling and flight characteristics of the UT-2 were never excellent. In the 1950s they were replaced with the Yak-18 as a primary trainer and the Yak-11 as an advanced trainer. After the war, the UT-2 and -2M were also used by countries like Poland and Hungary.

Variants

In 1936, Yakovlev developed also very similar, but smaller, single-seat trainer-aerobatic aircraft, the UT-1, of which 1,241 were built between 1937 and 1940. An interesting variant of the AIR-10 (called in some sources AIR-20) was fitted with a 104 kW (140 hp) Renault Bengali inline engine, but it was not produced in favor of the M-11 variant. More advanced variants of the UT-2 included the UT-2MV of 1942 and the UT-2L of 1943 with a closed cockpit, which led to the development of the Yak-18. During World War II, the UT-2 was also tested as a light bomber, armed with 200 kg (440 lb) of bombs, rockets or machine guns. A floatplane version was designated the VT-2.

Description

Wooden construction trainer plane, conventional in layout, with low-wings, canvas and plywood covered. Two separate open cockpits in tandem, each with a windscreen. 5 cylinder M-11 radial, two-blade fixed pitch propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear with optional large wheel pants (usually removed). In winter it could operate on skis.

Operators

;FRA
*Normandie-Niemen unit;HUN;POL
*Air Force of the Polish Army;USSR

pecifications (Yak-UT-2)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=2: student and instructor
length main=7.15 m
length alt=23 ft 5 in
span main=10.2 m
span alt=33 ft 5 in
height main=2.99 m
height alt=9 ft 10 in
area main=17.12 m²
area alt=184 ft²
empty weight main=628 kg
empty weight alt=1,382 lb
loaded weight main= kg
loaded weight alt= lb
max takeoff weight main=940 kg
max takeoff weight alt=3,083 lb
engine (prop)=Shvetsov M-11D
type of prop= air-cooled radial
number of props=1
power main=75 kW
power alt=100 hp
max speed main=210 km/h
max speed alt=130 mph
range main=500 km
range alt=311 miles
ceiling main=3,500 m
ceiling alt=11,485 ft
climb rate main=204 m/min
climb rate alt=669 ft/min
loading main=54.3 kg/m²
loading alt= lb/ft²
power/mass main= 0.1 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.04 hp/lb

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Yakovlev UT-1
* Yakovlev Yak-5
* Yakovlev Yak-18
similar aircraft=
* Fairchild PT-19
* Miles Magister
sequence=
lists=
see also=

References

* Gunston, Bill. "The Osprey of Russian Aircraft 1875-1995". London:Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1 85532 405 9.