Yakovlev Yak-9UM Model Airplane

Item#: 60861

Wing Span: 17.24"
Length: 15.88"

Manufacturer: Yakovlev

This Custom Made Yakovlev Yak-9UM Airplane Model comes with a detachable stand, a personalized inscriptions plaque and a laminated Yakovlev Logo that adds beauty to this work of art.

Yakovlev Yak-9UM History:

The Yak 9U was the improved version of the Yak 9 fighter, the most important Russian fighter of WWII. Numerous technical improvements were made and engines up to 1,850 hp were installed. Final testing of the improved model was performed in April of 1944 and it was felt that at last they had a "..fighter able to fly the proverbial rings round its Luftwaffe opponents…". In the words of German fighter ace Gerhard Barkhorn (301 victories) " I fought against all types of Soviet fighter, including those supplied under Lend-Lease (spitfire, hurricane, P-40, P-39, P-51), and the Yak-9 was the best". In mock dogfights with aircraft supplied by the Allies, the Yak-9 bested all. In fact, the senior officer of the English No. 234 Squadron (P-51 squadron) James Eric Storrar preferred to fly a Yak-9 which was rotated to other pilots on a seniority basis. In the final week of the war a single Yak 9UT regiment destroyed 27 Fw 190s and one Bf 109 for the loss of two aircraft. During this period the Yak 9U averaged one kill for each 31 rounds of ammunition expended. The Yak 9U continued in European service after the war and was also employed in Korea.

In keeping with Soviet design the Yak 9 was, and is, remarkably easy to service. The cowling is able to be fully removed and installed in 7 minutes. The pneumatic system is simple and requires no fluid service. Controls are manual and all systems are kept light and rugged. Our new manufacture Yak 9U-M aircraft incorporate a rear passenger seat with an independently openable and jettisonable canopy giving the passenger more safety than in a converted WWII aircraft. In addition the canopy bows have been made of oversize tubing to provide additional protection in the case of a roll over accident. The metal skin is anodized to preclude the possibility of corrosion and is attached to a massive welded chromoly steel tubing inner structure. These are rugged and well built aircraft. The deeper you dig the prettier they get. Our aircraft receive V-1710 Allison engines and Hamilton Standard propellers in order to maximize serviceability and reliability. The propellers are assembled from new parts by California Propeller. Currently Allison Performance Engines is providing the engines. The project is joint US-Russian in nature with ongoing factory support and technical assistance.

I have personally gone to great lengths to bring this project to fruition. It has been difficult and even painful at times . I can clearly say now that it was worth it. Like the P-51 the Yak is truly something special, a real pilot's aircraft with classic lines and even more performance. The following statistics apply to current manufacture aircraft.