Yakovlev Yak-9 D
Yakovlev · SU · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Yak-9D ('Dal'noboyny' — long-range) was developed to escort bombers and provide fighter cover over greater distances, carrying 650 litres of fuel versus the standard Yak-9's 420 litres.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Slender, elegant fuselage of mixed wood-metal construction; prominent narrow-chord tailplane |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Additional fuel tanks in the wings providing 650 litres total — no external visible change but the wing is structurally heavier and sits lower at rest
- Single 20 mm ShVAK cannon through the propeller hub and one 12.7 mm UB machine gun — same armament as standard Yak-9
- Slender, elegant fuselage of mixed wood-metal construction; prominent narrow-chord tailplane
Indistinguishable from other Yak-9 variants in the air without access to technical data; the extra fuel is internal. Look for the standard Yak-9 silhouette — slender fuselage, rounded wingtips, wide-track undercarriage — and confirm D identity from markings or documentation. No external antenna or stores differences from standard Yak-9.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-9 D has a length of 8.55 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.74 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 591 km/h (367 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
2,748 Yak-9Ds built from 1943. They flew escort missions over the Dnepr and Crimea and gained fame escorting Soviet and Allied bombers. The range increase came at a cost: the additional fuel weight reduced climb rate and maneuverability.
Variants
The Yak-9D led directly to the Yak-9DD (ultra-long-range) which could reach 1,400 km. The D suffix distinguishes range-optimised marks across the family.
Where you'll see it
Soviet VVS from mid-1943; used during the Kursk campaign and subsequent offensives. Museum examples in Russia; one or two airworthy Yak-9 variants fly in the West on the warbird circuit.
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