Yak-9 

The Yak-9 is widely recognised as one of the best fighters of the Second World War.  While this is clearly a sweeping statement (and of course within individual types of aircraft, there were a wide variety of models, differing greatly from each other in performance), we feel it is broadly true.
By virtue of its exceptionally small size and therefore very high power-to-weight ratio coupled with powerful controls, a Yak-9 will outmanoeuvre, out-climb and out-run all its direct competitors such as the P-51 and Spitfire, as well as Me109 and FW190.  In particular, it has exceptional performance at low level, which is of course of much greater interest in terms of today’s usage.

One of the original wartime manufacturing factories in Orenberg, in the extreme south of Russia, has worked with Yakovlev Design Bureau to manufacture a series of totally new Yak-9 aircraft using all the original drawings.  While faithfully reproducing every detail of the original aircraft, they are made with the latest materials as well as a level of cosmetic finish that was not dreamt of with the original aircraft. 

The key points are as follows:-

*     19 Aircraft have already been completed and sold. 

*     For simplicity, these are divided between the two seat Yak-9 and single seat Yak-3. 

*     The aircraft are totally new in every way.  This is not only an advantage knowing that the aircraft is perfect at the time of purchase, but also because all spares are readily available including main airframe components, which of course is not the case with a restored aircraft from the same era. 

*     The aircraft are delivered to the West in bare metal and without fabric on the control surfaces.  We put new Ceconite on the control surfaces and then paint the aircraft in high quality two-pack paint to the customer’s specification. 

*     The aircraft are complete in every way and our prices below are “flyaway” although a few extras are available. 

*     We are using the Allison 1710 V12 engine and our supply is of  unused engines from their original inhibited factory crates, which are then totally overhauled, incorporating a variety of modern modifications by Allison Competition Engines in the USA.  These engines are powerful, reliable and still relatively cheap. 

*     The second seat in the Yak-9 can be fitted with basic instrumentation, as well as the main controls, including throttle and pitch.  

 Performance

 Empty weight 1,930 kgs (4,246 lbs).  Maximum T/O weight 2,718 kgs (6,150 lbs). With the 8.8 supercharger, the Yak-9 will climb at 6,000 ft per minute; has sea-level maximum of 370 mph and 430 mph at 18,000 ft; cruise at 250 mph at  50 gallons per hour; and operate from 700 yards strips (hard or grass).

 Standard Equipment

 The aircraft is delivered in a “flyaway” condition with:-

 *     New engine.

*     Zero-timed propeller (three blade Hamilton Standard).

*     All other components brand new.

*     500 litres fuel.

*     Rear seat (with leather interior if required).

*     Paintwork to choice.

*     Full instrumentation.

Although not nearly so well known as Western contemporary fighters, the Yak series, principally the Yak-3 and the Yak-9, were arguably the best fighters of the Second World War. They were small, extremely agile, and more than a match for the Me-109 and F-W190 aircraft of the Luftwaffe they came up against – and this by the Germans’ account rather than the Russians’.

Although produced in extremely large quantities, the Soviet philosophy at the time was that once an aircraft was no longer serviceable on the "front line", it was melted down to make new generation aircraft. For this reason, the number of genuine Soviet fighters of WWII is extremely limited. Obviously more will appear as their scarcity and value makes it worthwhile to embark on complete refurbishment of "wrecks".

Of the Yak fighters, the Yak-3 (interestingly enough a slightly later aircraft than the Yak-9) was viewed as a light-weight, short-life fighter, and most Yak-3s were of mixed construction, ie with wooden wings. Conversely the Yak-9 were seen as a high-quality long-term aircraft, and therefore it is particularly sad that so few have survived.

Current information is that there are only six genuine and original Yak-9s in the world – four in East European museums, one awaiting restoration in Santa Monica, and the one we describe below, of a total production of almost 17,000!

This aircraft is a late-series Yak-9U, which survived by virtue of being kept at the Russian Airforce Base at Kubinka, and used as a demonstration aircraft until the 1960s. As such it has, almost uniquely, survived absolutely complete, even down to its original machine guns, etc.

The current position is as follows:-

• It was originally bought by a wealthy "new Russian", a non-pilot, who wanted an aeroplane that was totally complete and historical, and which could fly, but which had not been totally restored to flying condition.
• This work has largely been done, as can be seen from photographs, which we attach. However, the owner then ran out of money, and we have acquired the aircraft.
• Having spoken at length to the people who carried out the work, they are concerned that there may be some corrosion in the fuselage. When they rebuilt the Klimov engine, they also became aware of some corrosion in the bores, but, for the use that was intended, this was not an issue.
• Our intention is to completely restore the aircraft – we will do all the mechanical work in Russia, including a new overhaul of the engine to proper standards, as well as the overhaul of a second engine.
• We will then transport the entire aircraft to Lithuania to do all the assembly and cosmetic work, which they can do to an extremely high standard. The aircraft today is probably painted (internally etc) to a higher standard than it was in the War, but still well below the standard that Western collectors expect.
• The current engine is a Klimov M-105, which is 1290 hp and the spare engine is a Klimov M-107, which is 1370 hp. An important point is that because the aircraft is very small, its performance is much higher than contemporary fighters, even on less power.

Weight empty: 2477kg (5461lb)

Fuel: 355kg (783lb)

Max loaded weight: 3150kg (6944lb)

Max speed: 600km/h (373mph) at sea level

700km/h (435mph) at 5500m (8000 ft)

Climb to 5000m (16000ft): 4.1 min

Service ceiling est: 11300m (37075ft)

Range: 884km (549 miles)

Take-off run: 380m (400 yds)

Landing speed: 140km (87mph)

Landing run: 535m (580 yds)

Time-scale

It can be seen that the aircraft is absolutely complete, and does not require a vast amount of work, although our intention is to produce an aircraft that is absolutely immaculate, and, to date, the only original flying Yak-9 in the world. We are awaiting formal instructions to begin this work, and are prepared to commit ourselves to definitive time-scales, but, as a guide, everything that needs to be done can be done within one calendar year of commencement, but we expect to establish a firm 18 month schedule for all works to be completed.

We could discuss all pricing but would intend to offer:

• The aircraft, completely restored to perfect flying condition.
• The engine and propeller freshly zero-timed.
• External paintwork to a high standard, using Western paint, to the purchaser’s specification.
• Interior similarly painted to a high standard, either retaining all original instruments, placarding, etc, or, if required, incorporating Western placarding and avionics.
• A second zero-timed Klimov, plus a zero-timed propeller, will be included in the "package".
• A package of line spares, including items such as tyres, brakes, sparking plugs, etc (ie all spare items that are likely to be needed), will also be included.
• A full history of the aircraft from Russian archives will also be provided (this is currently being researched).
• Shipment to the purchaser’s country of residence and assembly there.

Click here to see more Yak 9 drawings
Click here to see more Yak 9 photographs