Yak-11

The Yakovlev Yak-11 is a Soviet two‑seat advanced trainer that entered service shortly after World War II. Developed from the wartime Yak‑3 fighter, it first flew in 1945 and was introduced to the Soviet Air Force in 1947. Designed to bridge the gap between basic trainers and front‑line combat aircraft, the Yak‑11 retained the Yak‑3’s low‑drag airframe while incorporating a more powerful radial engine, the Shvetsov ASh‑21 producing 700 horsepower. Its all‑metal construction, retractable cockpit canopy, and flaps gave students realistic handling characteristics, and the aircraft could also be equipped with practice armament such as a 23 mm cannon, rockets, or light bombs, allowing pilot conversion to fighter and attack roles.

Over 3,300 units were built, serving not only in the USSR but also in Warsaw Pact nations, Egypt, and India, where it remained in operation into the 1970s. The Yak‑11’s simplicity, forgiving flight envelope, and low operating costs made it a benchmark for post‑war trainer designs worldwide. Its legacy endures in museums and vintage flight displays, symbolising the transition from piston‑engine dogfighting to the jet age. Today, a few restored Yak‑11s still perform at airshows worldwide.

Yakovlev

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