Yakovlev Yak-12

The Yak-12 was designed by Yakovlev's team to meet a requirement of the Soviet Air Force of 1944 for a new liaison and utility plane, to replace the obsolete Po-2 biplane. It was also meant to be used in civil aviation as a successor to Yakovlev's AIR-6 of 1934, built in a relatively small series. Yakovlev's first proposal was a four-place high-wing aircraft, the Yak-10 (first named Yak-14), built in January 1945. It won the competition with a low-wing Yak-13, based on the same fuselage, and a series of 40 Yak-10s were produced,[1] powered with a 108 kW (145 hp) Shvetsov M-11M radial.

In 1947, Yakovlev developed a new aircraft to replace the Yak-10. This was fitted with a more powerful 119 kW (160 hp) M-11FR, a new wing and undercarriage, and a fuselage with a revised shape (lower tail). The new type was designated Yak-12, first flying in 1947.[2] 788 of the basic variant were produced, including military observation planes, some Yak-12S air ambulances, Yak-12SKh agricultural aircraft and Yak-12GR floatplanes. A distinguishing feature of the basic Yak-12, just like Yak-10, were engine cylinders with individual cowlings. It was a plane of a mixed construction and could take 1 or 2 passengers, apart from a pilot.

The next generation Yak-12 entered production in 1952, starting with the Yak-12R. It was fitted with a new 194 kW (260 hp) Ivchenko AI-14R radial and all-metal construction. The wing area increased (from 21.6 m² to 23.8 m²). This variant had the least wing loading of all Yak-12s, and therefore best STOL performance (take-off run 52 m/171 ft, landing 81 m/266 ft).

After being lengthened to improve weight distribution, with further strengthening of the structure and other minor changes, from 1955 the Yak-12M ("modernized") was produced. A visible difference was a lengthened, curved tailfin. This variant became more universal, offering a bigger payload. It took a pilot and 3 passengers and could be fitted with dual controls for training, a stretcher for an ambulance role or an agricultural spraying device. It became the most numerous variant.

The last generation, produced from 1957, was the Yak-12A. It was an aerodynamically refined variant, with a slimmer fuselage and a new wing.[3] The cowling was smaller diameter. The rectangular wings were fitted with trapezoidal ends and automatic slats, also single struts replaced twin struts. Navigation equipment and controls were improved, and performance also increased. In the USSR, 3,801 of Yak-12s were built in all models (including 3,013 Yak-12R, M and A). An experimental Yak-12B biplane was also developed, but did not enter production.

The Yak-12M was licence-built from 1956 in Poland as the WSK-4 Okecie, or Jak-12M (Polish spelling of Russian name). From 1959, the Yak-12A was built in Poland (1,054 Jak-12Ms, 137 Jak-12As), most for export to the USSR. In 1958, further development of the Yak-12M was carried out in Poland, becoming the PZL-101 Gawron.

The Yak-12 was also produced in China as Shenyang type 5.

Yak-12s first entered service in the Soviet Air Force as a liaison and artillery observation plane. Then, they were used also in the Soviet civilian aviation – mostly in the DOSAAF aero club for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.

Apart from the Soviet Union, Yak-12s were used in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia (civil and military), and Hungary (civil). Licence-built Shenyangs were used in China and other countries. In some countries, including Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the Russian name was transcribed as Jak-12.

In the Polish Air Force, about 90 Yak-12s were used from 1951, as liaison, patrol, and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s. Most were next handed over to civil aviation. In Poland, the first civilian model was acquired in 1952, and larger numbers were used from the 1960s (at least 79). They were used mostly in regional aeroclubs for pilot training, parachute training, transport, and glider towing. 21 were used as air ambulances.

Some civil Yak-12s (mostly Yak-12A) remain in use in 2006.

On July 12, 2012, a Yak-12 chartered by Canada's Kinross Gold Corporation, crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in Nouakchott, Mauritania.[4]

Metal construction (Yak-12R, M, A) or mixed construction (Yak-12) braced high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal and canvas covered. Wings fitted with flaps and slats (automatic slats in Yak-12R and A, or fixed in other variants). Four-seat cabin (in early variants of Yak-12 – 2 or 3 seats). Conventional fixed landing gear with tail wheel.

Single radial engine: 5-cylinder M-11FR (nominal power 104 kW/140 hp, take-off power 118 kW/160 hp) – Yak-12 basic variant; 9-cylinder AI-14R (nominal power 161 kW/220 hp, take-off power 191 kW/260 hp) – Yak-12R, M and A. Two-blade propeller. Two fuel tanks in wings, 225 L (55 US gal) each.

Yak-12M, main production version

Yak-12

Basic variant built for military and civilian operators.

Yak-12GR

Floatplane version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12S

Air ambulance version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12SKh

Agricultural version of the Yak-12.

Yak-12R

Improved version of the Yak-12 powered by Ivchenko AI-14R engine and the plane construction became all-metal, built from 1952.

Yak-12M

Main production version with further construction strengthening, a lengthened tailfin and other minor changes, built from 1955.

Yak-12A

Aerodynamically refined version with a slimmer fuselage, engine cover with smaller diameter and some wing modifications, built from 1957.

Yak-12B

Experimental biplane version, not produced.

Shenyang type 5

Yak-12 licence-built in China.

Jak-12M

Yak-12M licence-built in Poland, 1,054 built.

Jak-12A

Yak-12A licence-built in Poland, 137 built.

PZL-101 Gawron

Polish development of the licence-built Yak-12M.

Yak-12 3-view drawing

Data from OKB Yakovlev,[5] Soviet Transport Aircraft since 1945[6]

General characteristics

• Crew: one
• Capacity: three passengers
• Length: 9 m (29 ft 6 in)
• Height: 3.12 m (10 ft 3 in)
• Wing area: 23.8 m² (256 sq ft)
• Airfoil: Clark YH[7]
• Empty weight: 1,026 kg (2,262 lb)
• Gross weight: 1,450 kg (3,197 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Ivchenko AI-14R 9-cylinder, air-cooled, radial piston engine, 191 kW (256 hp)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 182 km/h (113 mph, 98 kn) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 127 km/h (79 mph, 69 kn) economical
  
• Landing speed: 82 km/h (51 mph; 44 kn)
• Range: 765 km (475 mi, 413 nmi) [8]
• Service ceiling: 4,160 m (13,650 ft)
• Rate of climb: 4.1 m/s (810 ft/min)
• Time to altitude: 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in 4 minutes
  
• Take-off run: 126 m (413 ft)
• Landing run: 90 m (295 ft)

Related development

• Yakovlev Yak-10
• Yakovlev Yak-13
• PZL-101 Gawron

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Fieseler Fi 156
• Aero L-60 Brigadýr
• Piper PA-20 Pacer
• Cessna 170

• Gunston, Bill. The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995. London:Osprey Aerospace, 1995. ISBN 1-85532-405-9.
• Benedykt Kempski: Samolot wielozadaniowy Jak-12, TBiU nr.90, Wydawnictwo MON, Warsaw 1983, ISBN 83-11-06982-4 (Polish language)
• Stroud, John. Soviet Transport Aircraft since 1945. London:Putnam, 1968. ISBN 0-370-00126-5.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yakovlev Yak-12.

• Photos and drawings at Ugolok Neba site.