Yakovlev Yak-16
Yakovlev · Soviet Union · first flew 1947 · transport aircraft
The Yakovlev Yak-16, NATO reporting name Cork, was a Soviet light transport that first flew in 1947. Passenger and military cargo prototypes were built, but neither entered production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing, twin-engined monoplane that closely resembled the Li-2
- Main undercarriage legs retracting forward into the engine nacelles, leaving the wheels semi-exposed, with a fixed tailwheel
- Radial engines with NACA cowlings driving two-bladed variable-pitch propellers
The metal-skinned semi-monocoque fuselage had a two-person cockpit and ten passengers. The two-spar metal wing was built in three sections, with a rectangular centre section and trapezoidal outer panels, and the tail control surfaces were fabric-covered.
Specifications
- The Yakovlev Yak-16 has a length of 15.6 m (51 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 21.5 m (71 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 370 km/h (230 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The GVF civil air fleet issued a requirement for a ten-passenger aircraft to serve low-volume destinations too small for a Lisunov Li-2, and Yakovlev was tasked with it in February 1946. The first prototype first flew on 24 September 1947 and passed its State acceptance trials in early 1948.
Variants
The military Yak-16-II had a UTK-1 ball turret with a 12.7 mm machine gun, a reinforced cabin floor, a slightly larger vertical tail and a slightly longer fuselage. It could carry seven paratroopers, ten troops or six stretcher cases, and had a clamshell door on the left side.
Where you'll see it
Neither version was put into production because the Antonov An-2 was felt to be more versatile. The Yak-16-II was approved for production after further trials that led to a larger horizontal tail and wing and tail de-icing equipment.
Related aircraft
- Yakovlev EG
- Yakovlev Yak-17
- Yakovlev Yak-19
- Yakovlev Yak-23
- Antonov An-2
- Beriev Be-8
- Chyetverikov TA
- Convair XC-99
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