Yakovlev Yak-3

The Yakovlev Yak-3 was a Russian fighter aircraft of World War 2.

The Yak-3 entered service in 1944; it was developed alongside the Yak-9 as an improvement of Yak-1M and, although having a lower designation number, entered service after its sister plane. It was a bit lighter and slimmer than the Yak-9 and was a very agile dogfighter at low heights; however, as with many Russian fighter aircraft, its performance declined tremendously above about 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

The Yak-3 was powered by a 970 kW (1,300 hp) Klimov V12 inline engine which gave it a top speed of 407 mph. It was armed with a single engine-mounted 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 12.7 mm UBS machine guns.

In total, 4,848 aircraft were produced; at least five of them remain in airworthy condition.

The designation Yak-3 was also used for two prototype planes that were built in 1941 as a modification of the Yak-1. These planes are also known under the alternative designation I-30 ("I" for Istriebitiel – fighter). They were partly constructed from aluminium and were more heavily armed than the Yak-1:

• first machine: 2x 20mm ShVAK guns in wings and 2x ShKAS 7,62mm machine-guns over engine
• second machine: 2x 20mm ShVAK guns in wings and 4x ShKAS 7,62mm machine-guns over engine

Both prototypes were powered by a Klimov M-105P engine (809.6 kW). Due to a lack of aluminium, the machnines did not enter production.

Since 1991, a number of Yak-3s have been newly manufactured by Yakovlev for the warbird market, using the original plans and dies. These are powered by Allison V-1710 engines and have the designation Yak-3UA. At least two of these aircraft are based in the United States, one in Santa Monica, California and the other in Maryland near Washington DC.

Specifications (Yak-3)

General Characteristics

• Length: 8.5 m (27 ft 10 in)
• Wingspan: 9.2 m (30 ft 2 in)
• Height: 2.39 m (7 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 14.85 m² (159.8 ft²)
• Empty: 2,105 kg (4,640 lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 2,660 kg (5,864 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Klimov VK-105PF-2 V-12 piston engine, 970 kW (1,300 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 655 km/h (407 mph)
• Range: 815 km (506 miles)
• Service ceiling: 10,700 m (35,000 ft)
• Rate of climb: 1,266 m/min (4,153 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 179 kg/m² (36.7 lb/ft²)
• Power/Mass: kW/kg ( hp/lb)

Armament

• 1x 20 mm ShVAK cannon
• 2x 12.7 mm UBS machine guns

Related content

Related development: Yak-1 – Yak-7 – Yak-9 - Yak-11

Comparable aircraft: Messerschmitt Bf 109

Designation sequence: Yak-1 – Yak-2 – Yak-3 - Yak-4 – Yak-5 – Yak-6