The Yakovlev AIR-6 was a Soviet light utility aircraft of the 1930s. It was a single-engined high-wing monoplane designed by Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev, with 128 being built.
| AIR-6 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Light utility aircraft |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Yakovlev |
| Designer | Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev |
| First flight | 1932 |
| Introduction | 1934 |
| Number built | 128[1] |
| Developed from | Yakovlev AIR-5 |
Design and development edit
In 1932, the Soviet aircraft designer Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev, working as an engineering supervisor at the Polikarpov OKB, designed the AIR-5,[nb 1] a five-seat high-wing monoplane with a steel-tube fuselage and a wooden wing, powered by an American Wright J-4 Whirlwind radial engine giving 149 kW (200 hp). Although the AIR-5 successfully passed State acceptance trials, no production followed, as there was no suitable Soviet replacement for the imported engine.[3][4]
Yakovlev instead designed a scaled-down aircraft of similar layout to the AIR-5, but powered by a readily available 75 kW (100 hp) Shvetsov M-11 engine, to serve as a light utility aircraft. The new design, the AIR-6, was a high-wing monoplane using much of the structural design of the AIR-5, (and also featuring landing struts from the Polikarpov U-2 and tail surfaces from the Tupolev I-5 fighter), with a pilot and one or two passengers sitting in tandem in an enclosed cockpit.[5][6]
Operational history edit
The prototype AIR-6 flew in 1932, passing state acceptance trials in October 1933.[7] An accident with the Yakovlev AIR-7 sport aircraft, however, was blamed on a design error by Yakovlev, who was sacked from the Polikarpov design bureau.[8] This caused production plans to be delayed until Yakovlev was allowed to set up his own design bureau, with production starting in 1934. A total of 128 AIR-6s were built, with several being fitted with floats, and 20 equipped as specialist ambulance aircraft.[1]
Operators edit
Specifications edit
Data from OKB Yakovlev[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: one
- Capacity: one or two passengers
- Length: 7.8 m (25 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 12.08 m (39 ft 8 in)
- Wing area: 19.8 m2 (213 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 616 kg (1,358 lb)
- Gross weight: 961 kg (2,119 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Shvetsov M-11 five-cylinder radial engine, 75 kW (100 hp) [10]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 168.5 km/h (104.7 mph, 91.0 kn)
- Cruise speed: 130 km/h (81 mph, 70 kn)
- Range: 715 km (444 mi, 386 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 4,600 m (15,100 ft)
- Time to altitude: 6.6 min to 1,000 m (3,300 ft)
See also edit
Related development
References edit
Notes edit
- ^ Early Yakovlev designed aircraft were designated AIR in honour of Alexei Rykov, the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars[2]
Citations edit
- ^ a b Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 25–26.
- ^ Gunston 1995, p. 451.
- ^ Gunston 1995, pp. 451, 453–454.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 23–23.
- ^ Gunston 1995, p. 454.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 24.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, pp. 24–25.
- ^ Gunston 1995, p. 455.
- ^ Gordon, Komissarov and Komissarov 2005, p. 26.
- ^ Gunston 1995, pp. XX–XXI.
Bibliography edit
- Gordon, Yefim, Dmitry Komissarov and Sergey Komissarov. OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2005. ISBN 1-85780-203-9.
- Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1975–1995. London: Osprey, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.