In 1944, the Yakovlev OKB of the Soviet Union successfully conducted the maiden flight of the Yakovlev Yak-5, an innovative trainer aircraft that was developed for experimental purposes.
In 1944, the Soviet Air Forces utilized the Yakovlev UT-2 as their standard primary trainer.
However, due to its simplistic design, pilots encountered difficulties when transitioning to more advanced aircraft.
To address this issue, the Yakovlev design bureau developed the UT-2L, a more sophisticated derivative featuring an enclosed tandem cockpit, flaps, and blind flying instruments.
Concurrently, the Yakovlev team also designed the Yak-5, a single-seat aircraft intended as a fighter-trainer.
The Yak-5 was a low-wing monoplane constructed of wood and featured an enclosed sliding canopy over the rear cockpit, with the front cockpit removed.
The UT-2’s fixed landing gear was replaced with a retractable tailwheel undercarriage.
The aircraft was powered by a Shvetsov M-11D five-cylinder radial engine producing 115 hp (86 kW) and a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller.
It could be equipped with a single synchronized ShKAS machine gun aimed by a reflector sight, and a radio was also installed.
The inaugural flight of the Yak-5 prototype took place on 7 September 1944.
The test pilots expressed great satisfaction with the manoeuvrability of this novel fighter-trainer, and it successfully underwent official assessment.
Ultimately, the UT-2L and Yak-5 models did not proceed to mass production due to the perception within the Soviet Air Force command that wooden aircraft were becoming outdated.
Consequently, the Yakovlev Yak-18 trainer, constructed entirely from metal, was chosen for production in late 1945.
Tragically, the sole Yak-5 met its demise when a catastrophic failure of its wooden wing occurred during a snap roll, leading to a fatal crash.
Specifications Crew 1 Length 7.3 m (23 ft 11 in) Wingspan 10.5 m (34 ft 5 in) Wing area 17 m2 (180 sq ft) Empty weight 770 kg (1,698 lb) Max take-off weight 940 kg (2,072 lb) Powerplant 1 × Shvetsov M-11D 5-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 86 kW (115 hp) Propellers 2-bladed VISh-237 variable-pitch propeller Performance Maximum speed 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) Landing speed 85 km/h (53 mph; 46 kn) Range 450 km (280 mi, 240 nmi) Take-off run 180 m (590 ft) Landing run 200 m (660 ft) Armament 1x 7.62 mm (0.300 in) ShKAS machine-gun with 300 rounds Avionics PBP-1 reflector sight Sources Yakovlev Aircraft Since 1924 – Bill Gunston & Yefim Gordon. OKB Yakovlev, A History Of The Design Bureau And Its Aircraft-Yefim Gordon, Dmitriy Komissarov & Sergey Komissarov. Soviet Aircrafts Illustrated-A.S.Yakovlev. The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918-Vaclav Nemecek. Soviet AF Fighter Colours 1941-45-Erik Pilaeskii. Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War, Vol 1, Single Engined Fighters-Yefim Gordon and Dmitri Khazanov.
