Yak-1

From OnAirpower.org

Yak-1

Designation: Yak-1 Also Known As: I-26 Manufacturer: Yakovlev Nationality: Soviet First Flight: January 13, 1940 Remarks: Soviet fighter aircraft that began entering service just prior to World War II and was comparable in performance to the latest German fighters

[edit] Development History

The first prototype of the Yak-1, known as the I-26, was test flown on January 13, 1940 by test pilot Yu. I. Piontkovskii. The initial I-26 was equipped with an M-105P engine and a 20mm ShVAK cannon On April 27, 1940 the first I-26 crashed during a test flight, taking Piontkovskii's life^[1].

In December, 1940 the I-26 was formally renamed the Yak-1^[1].

[edit] Sources

• Wikipedia entry for Yak-1

[edit] References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Aviation in the USSR on the Eve of the War, pg. 162-3