Yakovlev Yak-15
Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · fighter
The Yakovlev Yak-15 was the Soviet Union's first operational jet fighter, a straightforward adaptation of the propeller-driven Yak-3 airframe fitted with a captured German Junkers Jumo 004B turbojet exhausting beneath the rear fuselage. It entered limited service in 1946, transitioning Soviet pilots to jet flight.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Captured Junkers Jumo 004B turbojet exhausting under rear fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet Union's first operational jet fighter, adapted from Yak-3 airframe
- Captured Junkers Jumo 004B turbojet exhausting under rear fuselage
- Steel heat shield protecting wooden fuselage from jet efflux
Closely resembles the piston-engine Yak-3 from above but is immediately identifiable by the absence of a propeller, the under-nose air intake, and the jet exhaust beneath the fuselage. The tailwheel undercarriage and wooden structure give it an older appearance than its jet contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-15 has a length of 8.7 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.2 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 786 km/h (488 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed rapidly after the Soviet acquisition of Jumo 004 engines from defeated Germany, the Yak-15 first flew on 24 April 1946 — on the same day as the rival MiG-9. The Yak-3 airframe required only modest modifications, including a steel shield protecting the wooden rear fuselage from the hot jet exhaust. Some 280 were built, serving primarily in a transitional training role as the Soviet Air Force converted to jets.
Variants
The Yak-17 was a tricycle-undercarriage development; the Yak-15UTI was a two-seat trainer version.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Soviet Air Force from 1946 in the fighter and conversion training role; replaced by the MiG-15 from 1950.
Related aircraft
- Yakovlev Yak-12
- Yakovlev Yak-18
- Yakovlev Yak-11
- Yakovlev Yak-17
- Avia S-92
- Commonwealth CA-15
- Hughes XF-11
- Junkers EF 126
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