Yakovlev AIR-1

{{Infobox aircraft begin

| name=Yakovlev AIR-1

| image=AIR1978.jpg

| caption=The AIR-1, 1978

}}{{Infobox aircraft type

| type=Two-seat biplane

| national origin=Soviet Union

| manufacturer=Yakovlev

| designer=Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev

| first flight=12 May 1927

| introduced=

| retired=

| status=

| primary user=

| number built=6+

| developed from=

| variants with their own articles=

}}

The Yakovlev AIR-1 (VVA-3) was a 1920s Soviet two-seat light biplane, the first aircraft designed and built by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev.

Development

Yakovlev designed his first aircraft while working at the Zhukovsky Military Aviation Academy; the aircraft was a two-seat light biplane powered by a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} ADC Cirrus piston engine. Although the directors of the academy were opposed to the design, the aircraft was built in the Academy Club on his own time. Originally designated VVA-3 (Military Aviation Academy-3) Yakovlev later redesignated it the AIR-1 in honour of Alexei Ivanovich Rykov, the country's premier (the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars) and the president of the Osoviakihm. The first flight on 12 May 1927 was flown by Yakovlev's friend J.I. Piontkovsky, who later rated the flying qualities as excellent; Piontkovsky later flew the aircraft non-stop from Sevastopol to Moscow in 15½ hours, a distance of 1240 km. In 1928 Yakovlev produced an improved variant, the AIR-2; six were built between 1928 and 1931 fitted with different five-cylinder radial engines. One aircraft powered by a Siemens engine was designated AIR-2S and was fitted with floats designed by V B Shavrov.

File:1986 CPA 5780.jpg

Variants

;AIR-1

:Prototype with a {{convert|60|hp|kW|0|abbr=on}} ADC Cirrus engine.

;AIR-2

:Improved variant fitted with either a Siemens, Walter NZ-60 or NAMI M-23 radial engine.

;AIR-2S

:AIR-2 fitted with two wooden floats.

;VVA-3

:Original designation of the AIR-1

Specifications (AIR-1)

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918.

|prime units? = met

|crew=two

|length m=6.9

|length ft=22

|length in=8

|span m=8.85

|span ft=29

|span in=0

|wing area sqm=18.7

|wing area sqft=201

|empty weight kg=335

|empty weight lb=739

|gross weight kg=535

|gross weight lb=1179

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=ADC Cirrus

|eng1 kw=45

|eng1 hp=60

|max speed kmh=140

|max speed mph=87

|range km=1240

|range miles=773

|ceiling m=3850

|ceiling ft=12625

}}

{{aircontent|

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

}}

References

=Notes=

{{reflist|refs=

Orbis 1985, p. 3098

Nemecek 1986, p. 244

}}

=Bibliography=

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |last= Nemecek |first= Vaclav |title=The History of Soviet Aircraft from 1918 |year=1986 |publisher=Willow Books |location=London |isbn=0-00-218033-2}}
  • {{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|publisher= Orbis Publishing}}

{{refend}}