Yakovlev Yak-14

Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1948 · glider

The Yakovlev Yak-14 was a large Soviet military assault glider designed to carry troops, light vehicles, or artillery. It used a twin-boom configuration with a high-set straight wing and a clamshell nose for direct loading.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	High-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × none, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	18.44 m fuselage
T — Tail	Twin fin

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

Spot it by:

Unpowered military glider — no engine
High-wing glider with large cargo hold and twin-boom tail
Clamshell nose loading for vehicles and heavy equipment

The twin-boom high-wing glider layout with its blunt-nosed fuselage and nose-loading doors is distinctive. The absence of any engine and the large span are the primary identification cues.

Specifications

The Yakovlev Yak-14 has a length of 18.44 m (60 ft).
It has a wingspan of 26.17 m (86 ft).
Its maximum speed is 300 km/h (186 mph).
Typical crew: 2 pilots plus up to 35 troops.

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

History

Designed in the late 1940s, the Yak-14 entered production in 1948 as the Soviet Air Force sought a large glider comparable to Western wartime designs. It was built in significant numbers and served alongside the Ilyushin Il-32 glider. The type represented one of the last generation of Soviet military gliders before helicopter transport rendered the concept obsolete.

Variants

No major production variants; some were modified for civil freight trials.

Where you'll see it

Served with Soviet airborne forces through the early 1950s. Some examples were reportedly transferred to allied Warsaw Pact air forces.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.