Yakovlev UT-1

The Yakovlev UT‑1 was a single‑seat, low‑wing trainer developed in the Soviet Union during the late 1930s. Conceived by Aleksandr Yakovlev’s design bureau as a successor to the earlier AIR‑7, the aircraft first flew on 1 August 1937 and entered service with Soviet flight schools the following year. Built primarily of wood with a fabric‑covered fuselage, the UT‑1 was powered by a 220 hp Shvetsov M-11D radial engine, giving it a maximum speed of about 230 km/h (143 mph) and a modest climb rate that made it ideal for teaching basic aerobatics and instrument flying. Its simple, lightweight construction, fixed conventional landing gear, and responsive controls earned it a reputation for being forgiving yet capable of performing loops, rolls and spins, which prepared pilots for the more demanding Yak‑1 fighter. Over 7,500 units were produced, and many were exported to Eastern Bloc allies, where they served well into the 1950s. The UT‑1’s role as a bridging trainer was crucial in expanding the Soviet pilot pool on the eve of World War II, and its design principles influenced later Yakovlev trainers such as the Yak‑11 and Yak‑18, cementing its place in aviation history.

Yakovlev

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