Yakovlev UT-2

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Yakovlev UT-2

The Yakovlev UT-2 (Russian: УТ-2) was a trainer aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force from 1937 until the 1950s. It was a standard Soviet trainer during the World War II.

1 History
2 Variants
3 Description
4 Operators
5 Specifications (Yak-UT-2)
6 Related content

[edit] History

The UT-2 was designed as a modern trainer plane, more suitable for training pilots of modern and fast aircraft, than older U-2 (Po-2) biplane. The new plane was designed by Yakovlev's team. The first attempt was the AIR-9 of 1933 - a low-wing monoplane with a closed canopy, but it was considered as too complicated for a primary trainer. The next design, AIR-10, was based upon the AIR-9, but it was simpler, with two separate open crew cabs, and lacking slats and flaps. It was flown on July 11, 1935. The AIR-10 won the competition with other trainer designs in 1935 and, after changes, was accepted as a standard trainer plane. A temporary designation for this plane became Ya-20 (Я-20). This is just because of the original AIR was the abbreviated name of Alexey Ivanovich Rykov [1], a communist leader executed in 1938. Yakovlev changed names of his aircraft to politically safe Ya... The mixed construction (wood and metal) of the AIR-10 was changed to wooden only, to simplify production. A prototype used the Shvetsov M-11E (112 kW, 150 hp) radial engine, but in serial planes M-11G (82 kW, 110 hp) engines were used. The serial production of the new plane started in September 1937. The plane was given a designation UT-2, which was an abbreviation of: uchebno-trenirovochnyi (учебно-тренировочный) - "primary/advanced trainer".

The UT-2 became mass-produced standard trainer of the Soviet Air Force, used also by civilian aviation. However, it soon demonstrated that it is not an easy plane to fly, becoming dangerous, with a tendency to go into spin. After some changes to its construction, the plane became safer and was fitted with the M-11D (93 kW, 125 hp) engine (it is sometimes called UT-2 model 1940).

To improve handling and stability, a new variant UT-2M (modernized) was developed in 1941 and put into production. The shape of wings was totally new, with a swept leading edge instead of a straight one (a rear edge of wings was now straight), and a tailfin was bigger.

In total, 7,243 aircraft UT-2 and UT-2M were produced in five factories between 1937 and 1946. Despite all improvements, the handling and flight characteristics of the UT-2 were never excellent. In the 1950s they were replaced with the Yak-18 as a primary trainer and the Yak-11 as an advanced trainer. After the war, the UT-2 and 2M were also used by countries like Poland and Hungary.

[edit] Variants

Yakovlev UT-2

In 1936, Yakovlev developed also very similar, but smaller single-seater trainer-aerobatic aircraft UT-1, (1,241 built between 1937 and 1940). An interesting variant of the AIR-10 (called in some sources AIR-20) was fitted with a Renault Bengali inline engine (104 kW, 140 hp), but it was not produced in favor of the M-11 engine variant. More advanced variants of the UT-2 included the UT-2MV of 1942 and the UT-2L of 1943 with a closed canopy and which led to the development of the Yak-18. During the World War II, the UT-2 was also tested as a light bomber, armed with 200 kg (440 lb) of bombs, rockets or machine guns. A floatplane version was designated the VT-2.

[edit] Description

Wooden construction trainer plane, conventional in layout, with low-wings, canvas and plywood covered. Two separate open crew cabs in tandem, each with a windsreeen. 5 cylinder M-11 radial engine, two-blade fixed pitch propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear with optional massive aerodynamic covers (usually removed). In winter it could operate on skis.