Yak-17

The Yakovlev Yak‑17 was the Soviet Union’s first production jet fighter, entering service shortly after World War II. Developed from the experimental Yak‑15, it first flew on 1 September 1947 and was introduced into the Soviet Air Force in 1948 as the Yak‑17 (initially designated Yak‑15U). The aircraft featured a single Klimov RD‑500 turbo‑jet, a licensed copy of the British Rolls‑Royce Derwent, delivering about 1 900 lbf of thrust. Its straight‑wing, all‑metal construction and conventional layout made it easy to produce using existing manufacturing techniques. The Yak‑17 could reach a top speed of around 910 km/h (570 mph) and had a service ceiling of 12 000 m, providing the USSR with its first jet capable of sustained high‑altitude flight. Though quickly eclipsed by swept‑wing designs such as the MiG‑15, the Yak‑17 served as an essential bridge between piston‑engine fighters and modern jets, training hundreds of pilots and helping to establish jet operating procedures. Its brief but pivotal role laid the groundwork for the rapid advancement of Soviet jet aviation in the early Cold War era. In total, about 2,300 Yak‑17s were built, and many were later exported to allied nations, where they continued to influence jet development well into the 1950s.

Yakovlev

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Design & Classification