Exactly 59 years ago, on March 24, 1966, the first full-profile vertical takeoff and landing aircraft flight was carried out in the USSR. Test pilot Valentin Mukhin became the first in the Soviet Union to fly the Yak-36 through a full cycle: vertical takeoff, horizontal flight, and vertical landing. This achievement was the result of many years of research and development conducted at the A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau.
The Yak-36, equipped with two R-27 lift-cruise engines with rotating nozzles, showed incredible results. The aircraft's takeoff weight was 9400 kg, and its maximum speed reached 1100 km/h. The flight range was 500 kilometers. The aircraft had rotating nozzles, a jet reaction control system, and an automatic control function at near-zero modes.
This successful test became the starting point for the development of Soviet aircraft construction. It laid the foundation for the creation of more advanced vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, such as the Yak-38 and Yak-141.
Thanks to this scientific and technical achievement, the Soviet Union was able to catch up with the leading aviation powers in the creation of aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing capabilities. This was extremely important for strengthening the country's defense capabilities and developing naval aviation.
Based on the accumulated knowledge, the staff of the Yakovlev Design Bureau decided to increase the functionality of the aircraft and began developing its shipborne version — the Yak-38 single-seat carrier-based attack aircraft.
In February 1972, the first flight took place according to the full program. In the same year, during testing, the Yak-38 became the first Soviet aircraft to successfully land on a warship — the aircraft-carrying cruiser "Moscow."
The Yak-38 was adopted by the Navy of the Soviet Union and became the first combat aircraft of shipborne basing in the history of domestic aviation. It also became the first aircraft in the world capable of vertical takeoff and landing on a ship, ahead of the British Sea Harrier by several years.
In the field of VTOL, the Design Bureau reached the top, developing the Yak-141 — the world's first supersonic vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. In the process of creating this aircraft, the most advanced scientific and technical solutions were applied both in the design of the airframe and in the choice of weapons and equipment.
To date, the A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau, or rather, the PJSC "Yakovlev", which is part of the United Aircraft Corporation, has not only preserved but also expanded its competencies in the field of developing vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. This is the only company in Russia that has practical experience in designing and ensuring the operation of such aircraft.
Earlier, www1.ru reported that the production center of PJSC "Yakovlev" in Komsomolsk-on-Amur is accelerating the SSJ-100 aircraft testing program, equipped with PD-8 engines. This was announced by Alexander Dolotovsky, Deputy General Director of PJSC "Yakovlev" and Director of the Superjet program.
Read more materials:
PD-8 and PD-14 aircraft engines turned out to be more voracious than foreign counterparts
The latest SJ-100 aircraft with PD-8 engines broke its own altitude record by 2.5 times