Yakovlev Yak-9 U
Yakovlev · SU · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Yak-9U ('Uluchshennyy' — improved) was the definitive Yak-9, fitted with the powerful VK-107A engine making it one of the fastest piston fighters of World War II at low and medium altitudes.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.55 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Klimov VK-107A engine replacing the VK-105PF — the most powerful engine fitted to any Yak wartime production aircraft, giving a longer, more tapered nose cowl
- Improved all-metal wing replacing the earlier mixed wood-metal structure
- Enlarged oil cooler intake under the nose — wider and deeper than the VK-105-powered Yak-9 variants
The longer, more tapered nose cowl housing the VK-107A is the primary cue over VK-105-powered Yak-9 marks. The oil cooler intake under the nose is noticeably larger. In the air the extra length ahead of the cockpit is visible compared with the D or T. The all-metal wing construction is not visible externally.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-9 U has a length of 8.55 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.74 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 672 km/h (418 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
3,921 Yak-9Us built from 1944. Initial production batches suffered from engine reliability problems with the VK-107A, but once resolved the U proved devastatingly effective. It represented the peak of Yak single-engine fighter development.
Variants
Yak-9P (post-war, three-cannon armament); the U led directly to the post-war Yak-9 family. The Yak-9UT added a 37 mm cannon.
Where you'll see it
Soviet VVS from mid-1944; post-war Soviet satellite states including Poland, Yugoslavia and North Korea (where Yak-9Ps flew in Korean War). Museum examples in Russia and Ukraine.
Related aircraft
- Yakovlev Yak-10
- Yakovlev Yak-13
- Yakovlev Yak-11
- Yakovlev Yak-3
- Arado E.580
- Bell XP-77
- Blohm & Voss BV 155
- Curtiss SC Seahawk
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.