Yakovlev Yak-4
{{Short description|Soviet light bomber during WWII (1941–1945)}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name =Yak-4
|image =Yakovlev_Yak-4_-_IV.jpg
|caption =
|type =Light bomber
|manufacturer =Yakovlev
|designer =Alexander Sergeyevich Yakovlev
|first_flight =20 February 1940
|introduction =1941
|retired =1945
|status =
|primary_user =VVS
|more_users =
|developed_from =Yakovlev Yak-2
|number_built =90
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Yakovlev Yak-4 (Service names Yak-4, BB-22bis (Blizhnij Bombardirovschik, russian ближний бомбардировщик, "short-range bomber")) was a Soviet light bomber used during World War II. It was developed from the Ya-22/Yak-2.
Design and development
File:Yak-4, light bomber plane.jpg
The Yak-4 was an improved version of the Yak-2 with more powerful Klimov M-105 engines and a number of other changes that were made to try to rectify the problems of the Yak-2. Two additional fuel tanks were added in the outer wings to bring the total capacity up to {{convert|180|L}} and the gunner's canopy was bulged to give him more room to use his {{convert|7.62|mm|abbr=on}} ShKAS machine gun. The upper fuselage was redesigned to improve the gunner's field of fire and the oil coolers were relocated from the sides of the engine nacelles to the 'chin' position to improve their performance.
Operators
;{{USSR}}
Specifications (Yak-4)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The Osprey Encyclopaedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995{{cite book | last=Gunston |first=Bill |title=The Osprey Encyclopedia of Russian Aircraft 1875–1995 |year=1995 |publisher=Osprey |location=London |isbn=1-85532-405-9}}
|prime units?=met
|crew=2
|length m=10.18
|length note=
|span m=14
|span note=
|height m=
|height note=
|wing area sqm=29.4
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|empty weight kg=4560
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=6115
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Klimov M-105
|eng1 type=V-12 liquid-cooled piston engines
|eng1 kw=821
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=constant-speed propellers
|prop dia m=
|prop dia note=
|max speed kmh=533
|max speed note=
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=925
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling m=9700
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading note=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
|armament=
- 2 × 7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns
- up to {{convert|600|kg|abbr=on}} of bombs
|avionics=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{more footnotes|date=March 2016}}
=Further reading=
- {{cite book |last1=Gordon |first1=Yefim |title=Soviet air power in World War 2 |date=2008 |publisher=Midland |location=Hinkley |isbn=978-1-85780-304-4}}
External links
{{commons category|Yakovlev Yak-4}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20130430162446/http://www.aviation.ru/Yak/#4 Yak-4 description on aviation.ru]
{{Yakovlev aircraft}}
{{Soviet bomber-attack designations}}
{{WWIIUSSRAF}}
Category:1940s Soviet bomber aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940
Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear