L ight swept-wing (45o) jet fighter, direct development of the
Yak-30. Even the original layout provided room for radar - and all-weather
combat capability. Designed to compete with the MiG-15, it was powered by
VK-1 engine and was slightly larger than its predecessors
(Yak-25 and Yak-30).
To keep aircraft weight as small as possible (Yakovlev's tradition), armament was decreased to pair of
NR-23 cannons with 80 rounds each. But the most risky innovation was bicycle landing
gear with 85% of aircraft weight resting on the central wheel. As a result, Yak-50 was 500kg lighter than
MiG-17 prototype, while powered with same engine.
Yak-50 was flown by S.N.Anokhin (July 15, 1949 - May 30,
1950). Flight performance was superior to all other contemporary fighters. Aircraft demonstrated speed
of M=1.03. But unusual landing gear did not allow Yak-50 to operate from unpaved airfields. Moreover, light aircraft with bicycle
landing gear was very sensitive to the cross-wind during takeoff/landing. Some
sources quote that Yak-50 was almost 'blown from the runway'
by the cross-wind during wet weather.
As a result, less demanding MiG-17 was preferred.
| Predecessors | Modifications |
|---|
Yak-30
|
None?
|
| Technical data |
|---|
