Aircraft: Yakovlev Yak-18

The Soviet Union
school and training aircraft

In the mid Thirties, Alexandr Yakolev designed a two seater, open cockpit scool and training aircraft powered by a radial engine. It was produced from 1937 as the U2. In 1943 a prototype with an enclosed cockpit was developed. It became the base for the Yak 18, a design at the Alexandr Yakolev Construction Bureau.
The machine, similar to the U-2, featured an all-metal construction. The fuselage truss was of welded steel tubes and the wings had a duralumin skeleton. The aircraft was fabric covered and had a retractable undercarriage. First flown in 1947, it was put into production in the same year. In April 1948 it was first shown to the public at the XXI Poznań International Fair. The Yak 18 proved to be a successful aeroplane, mass produced and exported to many countries. The machine scored several speed records as well as the altitude record (6311m), established in 1954.
In 1947-57 a total of 5680 Yak 18's and Yak 18U's (with a nose wheel) were built in the Soviet Union and Hungary.
In 1957, a new reconstructed version of aeroplane, known as the Yak 18A, was developed. It had a new engine and a metal skin fuselage. The single seat version was known as the Yak 18P and 18PM.
By 1975 8334 examples of the Yak 18 were produced. In Poland many Yak 18 versions were used between 1950-78, first with the Polish Air Force, then in aeroclubs. The displayed aeroplane was produced in Hungary in 1956 and after flying 1555 hours and two overhauls, it was given to the museum.
On the agreement with the "Polish Eagles" Foundation, the aeroplane was completely restored and brought to flying condition. In fact, it is the only airworthy example of this type. There only remains a few airworthy Yak 18's in the world.

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