Yakovlev AIR-1

The Yakovlev AIR‑1 was the first successful design created by the Russian engineer Alexandr Yakovlev in the early 1920s. Developed while Yakovlev was still a student at the Kiev Polytechnic Institute, the single‑seat monoplane made its maiden flight in 1923 from an airfield near Moscow. Its construction was remarkably simple: a wooden frame covered with fabric, a 35‑horsepower Anzani radial engine, and a high‑wing configuration that gave excellent visibility and stable handling. The AIR‑1 demonstrated that a lightweight, low‑power aircraft could achieve reliable performance, reaching a top speed of 150 km/h and a service ceiling of 3,000 meters. The plane’s success attracted the attention of the Soviet aviation authorities, leading to a series of subsequent prototypes such as the AIR‑2 and AIR‑3, which laid the groundwork for the prolific Yakovlev design bureau. Historically, the AIR‑1 marks the birth of Yakovlev’s career and represents a pivotal step in Soviet civil aviation, proving that indigenous design could compete with foreign models. Its legacy endures as the foundation of a lineage that later produced legendary fighters like the Yak‑1 and trainers such as the Yak‑52.

Alexandr Yakovlev

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Design & Classification