Yakovlev Yak-3

The Yakovlev Yak-3 was a Russian fighter aircraft of World War 2.

Related Topics:
Yakovlev - Russian - Fighter aircraft - World War 2

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The Yak-3 entered service in 1944; it was developed alongside the Yak-9 as an improvement of Yak-1M and, although having a lower designation number, entered service after its sister plane. It was a bit lighter and slimmer than the Yak-9 and was a very agile dogfighter at low heights; however, as with many Russian fighter aircraft, its performance declined tremendously above about 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

Related Topics:
1944 - Yak-9 - Yak-1M

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The Yak-3 was powered by a 970 kW (1,300 hp) Klimov V12 inline engine which gave it a top speed of 407 mph. It was armed with a single engine-mounted 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 12.7 mm UBS machine guns.

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In total, 4,848 aircraft were produced; at least five of them remain in airworthy condition.

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The designation Yak-3 was also used for two prototype planes that were built in 1941 as a modification of the Yak-1. These planes are also known under the alternative designation I-30 ("I" for Istriebitiel - fighter). They were partly constructed from aluminium and were more heavily armed than the Yak-1:

Related Topics:
1941 - Yak-1

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• first machine: 2x 20mm ShVAK guns in wings and 2x ShKAS 7,62mm machine-guns over engine
• second machine: 2x 20mm ShVAK guns in wings and 4x ShKAS 7,62mm machine-guns over engine

Both prototypes were powered by a Klimov M-105P engine (809.6 kW). Due to a lack of aluminium, the machnines did not enter production.

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Since 1991, a number of Yak-3s have been newly manufactured by Yakovlev for the warbird market, using the original plans and dies. These are powered by Allison V-1710 engines and have the designation Yak-3UA. At least two of these aircraft are based in the United States, one in Santa Monica, California and the other in Maryland near Washington DC.

Related Topics:
Warbird - Allison V-1710 - Santa Monica, California - Maryland - Washington DC

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Yakovlev Yak-3: Specifications (Yak-3) ►