Yakovlev Yak-12

infobox Aircraft
name =Yak-12 (Як-12)
type =Utility aircraft
manufacturer =Yakovlev, WSK-Okęcie, Shenyang



caption =Yak-12 (basic model) at the Polish Aviation Museum
designer =
first flight =1947
introduced = 1947
retired =
status =In use in civilian aviation
primary user =Soviet Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built =4,992 (without China)
unit cost =
developed from = Yakovlev Yak-10
variants with their own articles = PZL-101 GawronThe Yakovlev Yak-12 (Russian: Як-12, also transcribed as Jak-12, NATO reporting name: "Creek") is a light multirole STOL aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force, Soviet civilian aviation and other countries from 1947 onwards.

Design and development

The Yak-12 was designed by Yakovlev's team to meet a requirement of the Soviet Air Force of 1944 for a new liaison and utility plane, to replace the obsolete Po-2 biplane. It was also meant to be used in civil aviation as a successor to Yakovlev's AIR-6 of 1934, built in a relatively small series. Yakovlev's first proposal was a four-place high-wing aircraft, the Yak-10 (first named Yak-14), built in January 1945. It won the competition with a low-wing Yak-13, based on the same fuselage, and a series of 40 Yak-10s were producedCite book
author=Gunston, Bill|authorlink =Bill_Gunston|title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft from 1875 - 1995|publisher=Osprey Aerospace|location=London|year=1995|isbn= 1-85532-405-9] , powered with a 108 kW (145 hp) Shvetsov M-11M radial .

In 1947, Yakovlev developed a new aircraft to replace the Yak-10. This was fitted with a more powerful 119 kW (160 hp) M-11FR, a new wing and undercarriage, and a fuselage with a revised shape (lower tail). The new type was designated Yak-12, first flying in 1947. 788 of the basic variant were produced, including military observation planes, some Yak-12S air ambulances, Yak-12SKh agricultural aircraft and Yak-12GR floatplanes. A distinguishing feature of the basic Yak-12, just like Yak-10, were engine cylinders with individual cowlings. It was a plane of a mixed construction and could take 1 or 2 passengers, apart from a pilot.

The next generation Yak-12 entered production in 1952, starting with the Yak-12R. It was fitted with a new 194 kW (260 hp) Ivchenko AI-14R radial and all-metal construction. The wing area increased (from 21.6 m² to 23.8 m²). This variant had the least wing loading of all Yak-12s, and therefore best STOL performance (take-off run 52 m, landing 81 m).

After being lengthened to improve weight distribution, with further strengthening of the structure and other minor changes, from 1955 the Yak-12M ("modified") was produced. A visible difference was a lengthened, curved tailfin. This variant became more universal, offering a bigger payload. It took a pilot and 3 passengers and could be fitted with dual controls for training, a stretcher for an ambulance role or an agricultural spraying device. It became the most numerous variant.

The last generation, produced from 1957, was the Yak-12A. It was an aerodynamically refined variant, with a slimmer fuselage and a new wing. The cowling wa smaller diameter. The rectangular wings were fitted with trapezoidal ends and automatic slats, also single struts replaced twin struts. Navigation equipment and controls were improved, and performance also increased. In the USSR, 3,801 of Yak-12s were built in all models (including 3,013 Yak-12R, M and A). An experimental Yak-12B biplane was also developed, but did not enter production.

The Yak-12M was licence-built from 1956 in Poland as the WSK-4 Okecie, or Jak-12M (Polish spelling of Russian name). From 1959, the Yak-12A was built in Poland (1,054 Jak-12Ms, 137 Jak-12As), most for export to the USSR. In 1958, further development of the Yak-12M was carried out in Poland, becoming the PZL-101 Gawron.

The Yak-12 was also produced in China as Shenyang type 5.

Operational history

Yak-12s first entered service in the Soviet Air Force as a liaison and artillery observation plane. Then, they were used also in the Soviet civilian aviation - mostly in the DOSAAF aero club for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.

Apart from the USSR, Yak-12s were used in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (civil and military), and Hungary (civil). Licence-built Shenyangs were used in China and other countries. In some countries, including Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the Russian name was transcribed as Jak-12.

In the Polish Air Force, about 90 Yak-12s were used from 1951, as liaison, patrol, and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s. Most were next handed over to civil aviation. In Poland, the first civil model acquired in 1952, and larger numbers were used from the 1960s (at least 79). They were used mostly in regional aeroclubs for pilot training, parachute training, transport, and glider towing. 21 were used as air ambulances.

Some civil Yak-12s (mostly Yak-12A) remain in use in 2006.

Description

Metal construction (Yak-12R, M, A) or mixed construction (Yak-12) braced high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal and canvas covered. Wings fitted with flaps and slats (automatic slats - Yak-12R or fixed - other variants). Four seat cabin (in early variant Yak-12 - 2 or 3 seat). Conventional fixed landing gear with tail wheel.

Single radial engine: 5-cylinder M-11FR (nominal power 104 kW/140 hp, take-off power 118 kW/160 hp) - Yak-12 basic variant; 9-cylinder AI-14R (nominal power 161 kW/220 hp, take-off power 191 kW/260 hp) - Yak-12R, M and A. Two-blade propeller. Two fuel tanks in wings, 225 l (55 US gal) each.

Variants

;Yak-12:Basic variant built for military and civilian operators.;Yak-12GR:Floatplane version of the Yak-12.;Yak-12S:Air ambulance version of the Yak-12.;Yak-12SKh:Agricultural version of the Yak-12.;Yak-12R:Improved version of the Yak-12 powered by Ivchenko AI-14R engine and the plane construction became all-metal, built from 1952.;Yak-12M:Main production version with further construction strengthening, a lengthened tailfin and other minor changes, built from 1955.;Yak-12A:Aerodynamically refined version with a slimmer fuselage, engine cover with smaller diameter and some wing modifications, built from 1957.;Yak-12B:Experimental biplane version, not produced.;Shenyang type 5:Yak-12 licence-built in China.;Jak-12M:Yak-12M licence-built in Poland, 1,054 built.;Jak-12A:Yak-12A licence-built in Poland, 137 built.;PZL-101 Gawron:Polish development of the licence-built Yak-12M.

Operators

Military operators

;CZS
*Czechoslovakian Air Force;POL
*Polish Air Force operated Yak-12 aircraft (transcribed as Jak-12) since 1951, as liaison, patrol and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s.;USSR
*Soviet Air Force;YUG
*Yugoslavian Air Force

Civil operators

;PRC;CZS;flag|Hungary|1957;POL
*Aeroklub Polski since 1952
*Air ambulance service;USSR
*DOSAAF aero club operated Yak-12s for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.;YUG:

pecifications (Yak-12M)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

crew=one, pilot
capacity=3 passengers
length main=9.0 m
length alt=29 ft 6 in
span main=12.6 m
span alt=41 ft 4 in
height main=3.12 m
height alt=10 ft 3 in
area main=23.8 m²
area alt=256 ft²
empty weight main=1,026 kg
empty weight alt=2,257 lb
loaded weight main=1,450 kg
loaded weight alt= 3,190 lb
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Ivchenko AI-14R
type of prop= air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine
number of props=1
power main=191 kW
power alt=260 PS

max speed main=182 km/h
max speed alt=98 knots, 113 mph
cruise speed main=160 km/h
cruise speed alt=86 knots, 99 mph
range main=765 km
range alt=413 nm, 475 mi
ceiling main=4,169 m
ceiling alt=13,675 ft
climb rate main=4.1 m/s
climb rate alt=810 ft/min
loading main=61 kg/m²
loading alt= 12 lb/ft²
power/mass main= 130 W/kg
power/mass alt= 0.082 hp/lb
more performance=
*Take-off run: 126 m (413 ft)
*Landing run: 90 m (295 ft)

pecifications (Yak-12A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=one, pilot
capacity=3 passengers
length main=9.0 m
length alt=29 ft 6 in
span main=12.6 m
span alt=41 ft 4 in
height main=3.12 m
height alt=10 ft 3 in
area main=22.6 m²
area alt=243 ft²
empty weight main=1,056 kg
empty weight alt=2,328 lb
loaded weight main= 1,588 kg
loaded weight alt= 3,501 lb
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Ivchenko AI-14R
type of prop= air-cooled 9-cylinder radial engine
number of props=1
power main=191 kW
power alt=260 PS

max speed main=215 km/h
max speed alt=134 mph
cruise speed main=180 km/h
cruise speed alt=
range main=1070 km
range alt=665 miles
ceiling main=4,000 m
ceiling alt=13,100 ft
climb rate main=216 m/min (4.6 m/s)
climb rate alt=708 ft/min
loading main=70 kg/m²
loading alt= lb/ft²
power/mass main= 0.12 kW/kg
power/mass alt= 0.07 hp/lb
more performance=
*Take-off run: 153 m
*Landing run: 131 m

References

*Benedykt Kempski: "Samolot wielozadaniowy Jak-12", TBiU nr.90, Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-11-06982-4 (Polish language)

ee also

aircontent
related=
*Yakovlev Yak-10
*Yakovlev Yak-13
*PZL-101 Gawron

similar aircraft=
*Fieseler Fi 156
*Aero L-60 Brigadýr
*Piper PA-20 Pacer
*Cessna 170

External links

* [http://www.airwar.ru/enc/craft/yak12.html Photos and drawings] at Ugolok Neba site.