Yakovlev Yak-40

what is it?

The Yakovlev Yak-40 (Russian: Яковлев Як-40; NATO reporting name: Codling) is a regional jet designed in Soviet Union by Yakovlev. The trijet's maiden flight was in 1966, and it was in production from 1967 to 1981. It was introduced to service in 1968, with export models following in 1970.

🔎How to recognise it: 3 jet engines · low wing · retractable tricycle gear · 25 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 600 km/htop speed
• range 1,800 kmwithout refuelling
• seats 32passengers
• size 15.5 tmax take-off weight
• built 1,011made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

• 🎂First flew 60 years ago, in 1966.
• 🏎️Top speed is 4.6× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 25 m: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🐘Fully loaded it can weigh as much as 3 African elephants (~6 t each).
• 🌍Range of 1,800 km: 10× Amsterdam to Brussels.

jet: Gas turbine pushing air out the back (turbofan or turbojet): fast and high-flying.

spec sheet

first flight

1966-10-21

introduced

1968

status

still flying

number built

1,011

role

regional jet/ vip transport

origin

🇷🇺 Soviet Union

makers

Yakovlev, Saratov Aviation Plant

engines

3× Ivchenko AI-25

crew

3

passengers

32

length

20.4 m

wingspan

25 m

height

6.5 m

max take-off weight

15.5 t

top speed

600 km/h

cruise speed

550 km/h

range

1,800 km

ceiling

8,000 m

wings

low wing

landing gear

retractable tricycle gear

ICAO code

YK40

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.