Yakovlev Yak-12 "Creek"

Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · light aircraft

The Yakovlev Yak-12 is a Soviet single-engine high-wing liaison and utility aircraft widely used for agricultural, medical, and training tasks. Its simple, robust construction made it suitable for rough airstrips throughout the Soviet bloc.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.36 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Strut-braced high wing with fixed taildragger undercarriage
Single radial or inline engine in prominent cowling
Soviet utility liaison aircraft, also built by PZL in Poland

Recognise by the prominent strut-braced high wing, taildragger stance, large glazed cabin, and a single piston engine in a rounded cowling.

Specifications

The Yakovlev Yak-12 has a length of 8.36 m (27 ft).
It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
Typical crew: 1 pilot + up to 3 passengers.

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

History

First flown in 1946, the Yak-12 entered widespread Soviet military and civil service as a liaison and spotting aircraft. It was licence-produced in Poland by PZL and in China by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, giving it a broad user base across the Eastern bloc and developing nations.

Variants

Key variants include the Yak-12A with an enclosed cabin, the Yak-12R with a revised tail, and the Yak-12M stretched version; PZL produced the CSS-13 derivative in large numbers.

Where you'll see it

The Yak-12 served extensively with Soviet and Warsaw Pact air forces and aeroclub fleets; survivors remain airworthy in Eastern Europe and are occasionally seen at airshows.

Related aircraft

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