Yakovlev Yak-24

The Yakovlev Yak‑24, nicknamed “Molodets,” was a Soviet twin‑engine transport helicopter that entered service in the early 1950s. Designed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau, it first flew on 14 September 1952 and was produced in limited numbers until 1956. The aircraft featured a conventional single‑main‑rotor layout with a tail rotor, but its most distinctive element was the use of two Ivchenko AI‑26 radial engines mounted side‑by‑side in the forward fuselage, driving a common gearbox that powered the main rotor. This arrangement gave the Yak‑24 a spacious cabin capable of carrying up to 24 troops or 2,500 kg of cargo, and it could also be equipped with external sling loads. Its maximum speed of 260 km/h, service ceiling of 4,600 m, and relatively short take‑off distance made it suitable for operations from unprepared fields and naval vessels. Although only about 40 units were built, the Yak‑24 demonstrated the feasibility of large‑capacity twin‑engine helicopters and influenced later Soviet designs such as the Mil Mi‑8. Its development marked a step forward in cold‑war era rotorcraft capability, highlighting Yakovlev’s versatility beyond fixed‑wing aircraft. Today several examples survive in museums, preserving its legacy for future generations.

Yakovlev

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