UT-1, AIR-14 by A.S.Yakovlev

24k b/w UT-1 drawing from the 'Krylia Rodini' magazine, March 1984

C
ompact monoplane aerobatic trainer with open cockpit. When the I-16 fighter came to service, it became obvious than biplane trainers (like U-2) do not provide enough training ground to fly fast and 'hot' monoplane fighters. A.S.Yakovlev was one of the first designers who started to built monoplane trainers to match I-16 performance.
AIR-14 construction was similar to this of AIR-10: wire-braced fuselage of wielded soft steel tubes, with light wooden structure supporting the skin and providing the clean shape to the fuselage. Wing - single-piece with two spars, converging toward the wingtip (later this construction was used in Yak-1). Tailplane, tailfin and ailerons had aluminum frame. All skinning - fabric. Landing gear - fixed with rubber shocks. To prove its reliability Yu.I.Piontkovsky performed 300 landings during single day, followed by 1000 more (in few days).
State Acceptance Trials took place in 1936 with 100hp M-11. After minor modification and installation of 115hp M-11G aircraft was presented again in 1937 and after successful trials production was launched. Later with 150hp M-11E performance was improved again. In 1939 engine cradle was extended forward, making handling easier. Same modification included new fuel system, allowing inverted flight. Small series were built with oleo-pneumatic shocks and single machinegun (modified by L.I.Suturgin).
In 1937 UT-1 was installed on floats, setting two records in October same year:
  • October 2: Yu.I.Piontkovsky set speed record 218km/h at 100km;
  • October 21: D.N.Fedoseev flew floatplane from Moscow to Ufa, covering 1174km non-stop;
    Total number of variants was about 10, with different wing section, new propellers, floating ailerons etc. Not all of them were successful.
    UT-1 was too demanding for primary trainer, and biplanes were still used on early training stages.
    In 1941 some UT-1s were armed in frontline workshops. Typical armament included two ShKAS machineguns and few RS-82 rockets under the wings.
    1241 built in 1937-1940. UT-1 established eight international records of speed, ceiling and range. Light trainer remained unsurpassed as aerobatic/sport aircraft until 50's.
    The initials AIR were those of a high-ranked member of the Bolshevik/Communist Party A.I.Rykov. When this one became the victim of one of Stalin's purges, A.S.Yakovlev quickly changed his designations...
    		• Technical data
    Type UT-1 (AIR-14) UT-1 UT-1 series UT-1 on floats
    Function Prototype Pre-series Trainer Floatplane
    Year 1936 1937 1937 1937
    Crew 1
    Engines 1*100hp M-11 1*115hp M-11G 1*150hp M-11E 1*150hp M-11E
    Length 5.75m 6.65m
    Height ?m
    Wingspan 7.3m
    Wing area 9.58m2
    Empty weight (kg) 423 449 429 505
    Loaded weight (kg) 590 618 598> 673
    Wing load (kg/m2) 61.6 64.5 62.4 70.3
    Power load (kg/hp) 5.9 5.4 4.0 4.5
    Maximum Speed (km/h) 249 241.5 257 218
    Landing Speed 80km/h
    Landing Roll 160m 13sec 180m 17sec 190m 19sec n/a
    Takeoff Roll 120m 8sec 140m 9sec 90m 5.5sec n/a
    Turn time 9sec ?sec 6.5sec ?sec
    Range 670km n/a
    Flight Endurance ?h 2.2h 3.0h ?h
    Ceiling 6180m 5000m 7120m ?m
    Climb
    1000m 2.6min 3.0min 2.45min n/a
    3000m 10min 13min 8.7min n/a
    Payload
    Fuel+Oil 68+13.5kg 62.5+13.5kg 79kg
    Created March 20, 1997
    Modified June 11, 1999
    by Alexandre Savine;    		 Back to
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