OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft [Hardcover]

Yefim Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2005

The Yakovlev design bureau started life in 1927 when Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev (1894-1977) brought out his first aircraft, the two-seat AIR-I. The first nine designs created by Yakovlev remained in prototype form, being developed largely at his own initiative. In 1935, however, his fortune changed when the UT-2 primary trainer entered large-scale production. In the immediate pre-war years and during World War II, the Yakovlev OKB proved quite versatile, developing such varied aircraft as the Yak-4 light bomber of 1939, the Yak-6 light transport, and the Yak-1 fighter of 1940. The latter was the progenitor of a highly successful series of fighters including the Yak-7, Yak-9, and Yak-3. After the war, diversity continued. For a while, fighters were still strongly on the agenda; the Yak-15 first flew on 24 April 1946, the same day as the MiG-9, and eveolved into the Yak-17 and Yak-23 featuring the same 'pod-and-boom' layout. The twin-engined Yak-25 interceptor was brought out in 1952, again becoming the first in a line of twinjet tactical aircraft - mostly bombers and reconnaissance aircraft. Civil aircraft development also continued on a large scale, the OKB developing such successful aircraft as the Yak-18 trainder/aerobatic aircraft family, the Yak-40 feederliner (1966) and the Yak-42 short/medium-haul airliner (1974). The company even tried its hand at helicopters; the tandem-rotor Yak -24 was brought out in 1952, entering small-scale production in 1955. Though overshadowed as a 'fighter-maker by Mikoyan and Sukhoi, the Yakovlev OKB did not give up. The Yak-38 VTOL attack aircraft first flew in 1970, entering service with the Soviet Navy in 1976. A major success was achieved in 2002 when the Yak-130, the company's latest trainer, was selected by the Russian Air Force.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Midland Publishing Ltd. (October 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1857802039
• ISBN-13: 978-1857802030
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #778,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yakolev history and aircraft revealed, September 24, 2005

By 

Rad63 (Toledo, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft (Hardcover)

Yefim Gordon and his asociates are working through Russian aircraft manufacturers similar to the way Putnam books did with predominantly UK manufacturers, This book is 384 pages of information, many photos and many drawing. There is a section called "A brief history of the Yakolev OKB" followed by sections on Lightplanes 1924-43 and continuing with 10 further types categories and ending with pilotless aircraft and a short color photo selection. Although expensive, it is a good value for the money particularly if you are interested in Russian aviation history and cannot read Russian

5.0 out of 5 stars OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft, August 11, 2010

By 

Charles D. Siebenthal (Windsor, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft (Hardcover)

Well done history of aircraft development, design and production by the Yakolev team. Well chosen photographs accompany the extremely informative text and data. Additionally the book is attractive and physically a first-class piece of work.