Jakowlew Jak-120

The Jakowlew Jak‑120, developed by the Soviet design bureau OKB in the early 1960s, was the first light twin‑engine trainer to incorporate a fully pressurised cabin and a glass‑cockpit layout. Design work began in 1961 under chief designer Alexander Jakowlew, aiming to replace aging piston‑engine trainers with a modern, low‑maintenance platform suitable for both basic flight instruction and instrument‑rating courses. The prototype flew on 12 March 1964 and, after a series of flight‑test modifications, entered limited production in 1967, with a total of 112 units delivered to flight schools across the USSR and allied nations.

Key features include a low‑wing monoplane configuration, twin horizontally opposed six‑cylinder Lycoming O‑360‑A2A engines delivering 180 hp each, retractable tricycle landing gear, and an all‑metal semi‑monocoque fuselage. The cockpit houses dual digital flight displays, a side‑by‑side seating arrangement, and a built‑in navigation trainer. Its fuel efficiency and forgiving handling made it popular for transition training.

The Jak‑120’s introduction marked a shift toward Western‑style avionics in Soviet training aircraft, influencing later designs such as the Yak‑52M and setting a benchmark for reliability and ease of operation in civilian aerobatic clubs worldwide.

OKB

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification