Yak Demonstration Team
Performer: Yak Demonstration Team
Aircraft Type: Yakovlev YAK-9U, YAK-18 Nanchang , L-39 “Albatros” Jet
About the Performance:
The Yak Demonstration Team is composed of many highly regarded and extremely qualified pilots. The team demonstrates the power, maneuverability and good looks of aircraft primarily built and designed by the famed World War II Russian aircraft designer Alexander Yakovlev.
Aircraft Information
YAK-9U
World War II Russian Fighter
The historic Russian YAK-9 fighter represented a formidable threat that delivered the knock out blow to the German Luftwaffe during World War II on the Eastern Front. Due to the YAK-9‘s incredible speed, handling, reliability and firepower, the German ME-109’s and Fock-Wulf 190s suffered enormous losses. The Luftwaffe reported more than 94,000 aircraft missing in action during the war, more than 62,000 of these on the Eastern Front.
In 1941, German Luftwaffe Chief Hermann Goering very nearly succeeded in destroying the Russian Air Force, attacking and destroying planes on the ground and in the air. Moving his design and manufacturing facilities east of the Ural Mountains, Alexander Yakovlev’s design bureau began production of the YAK-9 in 1942, with first delivery of the light versatile craft to fighter Russian fighter regiments by October of that year. Eventually, a record 16, 769 YAK-9’s of all models would be built.
The single engine plane operated with a wide variety of armament for use in anti-tank, light bomber and long-range escort roles, first seeing combat during the famed Battle of Stalingrad. The standard version had a 20mm cannon and two 12.7 mm machines guns. One German survivor of many air battles stated “ The Yak was no match for the ME-109’s, but there were so many of them…they swarmed like bees whenever we showed up.”
Specifications:
Engine: 1,650 hp, 12-cylinder (Klimov VK-107A)
Weight: 5,988 pounds
M ax Takeoff Weight: 6,830 pounds
Wing Span: 32 ft
Max Speed: 434 mph
Ceiling: 39,040 ft
Range: 541 miles
Armament: One 20 mm cannon
Two 12.7 mm machine guns
Two 220-pound bomb
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YAK 18
World War Two Russian Flight Trainer
The plane began its life as a Russian flight trainer. After World War II the aircraft was built under license in China, and became known as the YAK 18 “Nanchang” because it was produced at a factory in Nanchang. A later model was designated CJ-6A and represented design modifications from the original. The modifications from the original included retractable under carriage, modified wing design and a larger engine. The original Nanchang YAK 18 was powered by a145 h.p. engine, but models produced from 1962-1965 sport a 285 h.p. engine. More than 10,000 YAK 18’s and CJ-6’s were believed to have been produced in Russian and Chinese factories. Both the original YAK18 and Nanchang CJ-6 have become popular with pilots worldwide who appreciate the sturdy qualities, reliability and personality of this old war bird.
L39 “Albatross”
Jet Trainer
The L-39 jet trainer was born in Czechoslovakia and made it international debut at the 1977 Paris Air Show. Known for being extremely agile and providing a spectacular view from the cockpit, the subsonic L-39 is still used for pilot training by many European air forces. The aircraft has an all-metal construction, is powered by a single Progress AI-25TL turbofan engine. The single engine aircraft features a pressurized cabin, air conditioning and tandem seating. Although primarily a trainer, the nimble aircraft is perfect for aerobatic maneuvers. A light-attack version of the aircraft is in use by some air forces
