Yakovlev Yak-11

Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1945 · fighter

The Yakovlev Yak-11 was a Soviet two-seat advanced trainer derived from the Yak-3 fighter, designed to prepare pilots for high-performance piston-engined combat aircraft and later jets. Its fighter-like handling made it an effective transition trainer.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.2 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Soviet tandem two-seat advanced trainer with fighter lineage
Retractable undercarriage
Derived from Yak-3 fighter — similar proportions but longer nose

Very similar in outline to the Yak-3 but with a longer, more rounded nose to accommodate the larger engine, tandem canopy, and slightly wider fuselage; its clean low-wing layout and retractable gear distinguish it from contemporary trainers.

Specifications

The Yakovlev Yak-11 has a length of 8.2 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.4 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 460 km/h (286 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

First flown in 1945, the Yak-11 entered widespread service with the Soviet Air Forces and was exported extensively to Warsaw Pact and allied nations. Licensed production was carried out in Czechoslovakia by LET as the C-11, further increasing its numbers.

Variants

The LET C-11 was the Czech licence-built version; minor equipment differences existed between Soviet-built batches, and some were converted to single-seaters for racing post-service.

Where you'll see it

Served extensively with the Soviet Air Forces, Czech, Polish, Egyptian, Chinese, North Korean, and many other air arms; popular on the warbird circuit today.

Related aircraft

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