Yakovlev Yak-7

what is it?

The Yakovlev Yak-7 (Russian: Яковлев Як-7; NATO reporting name: Mark) was developed from the earlier Yak-1 fighter, initially as a trainer but converted into a fighter. As both a fighter and later reverting to its original training role, the Yak-7 proved to be a capable aircraft and was well liked by air crews. The Yak-7 was simpler, tougher and generally better than the Yak-1.

🔎How to recognise it: 1 piston engine with propeller · low wing · 10 m wingspan

base stats

• speed 495 km/htop speed
• range 643 kmwithout refuelling
• size 2,935 kgmax take-off weight
• built 6,399made 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 86 years ago, in 1940.
• 🏎️Top speed is 3.8× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
• 🚗Wingspan of 10 m: about 2 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🏔️Can fly 1.1× higher than Mount Everest (8,849 m).

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight

1940-07-23

introduced

1942

retired

1946

status

retired

number built

6,399

role

fighter, trainer

makers

Novosibirsk Aircraft Production Association, Yakovlev, NPO Lavochkin, Sokol, Tushino Machine-Building Plant

engines

1× M-105PA / Klimov M-105

crew

1

length

8.5 m

wingspan

10 m

max take-off weight

2,935 kg

top speed

495 km/h

range

643 km

ceiling

9,500 m

wings

low wing

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