The Yak-9 is a single-seat, single-engine, multi-role military aircraft produced by the Soviet aircraft manufacturer Yakovlev. Developed from the Yak-7, the low-wing Yak-9 took its maiden flight on July 6, 1942 and was introduced a few months later, in October. The different variants of the yak-9 proved lethal throughout a spectrum of missions during World War II, including interceptor, general ground attack, light bomber, anti-armor, and even night fighter. A total of 16,769 Yak-9s were built between October of 1942 and December of 1948, and the aircraft saw action post-Second World War, fighting for North Korea in the Korean War, where NATO designated it “Frank”.
The Yak-9 features a retractable undercarriage, a fuselage-mounted empennage, and has a wingspan of 31 feet, 11 inches. The fighter is powered by a liquid-cooled V-12 Klimov Vk-107A piston engine that delivers up to 1,500 horsepower to a 3-blade variable-pitch propeller. The Yak-9 has a range of 430 miles, climbs at 3,720 feet per minute, has a ceiling of 35,600 feet above sea level, and has a maximum speed of 420 miles per hour.
The Yakovlev Yak-9 is a demand pilot’s dream craft. Powerful and responsive, in able hands this craft can dance through the sky or scream just feet above the treetops.
