Has anyone heard of the Russians having a V/STOVL aircraft in their air force or on carriers?

The plane is called the 'Yak-38' and it seems it was the world's second operational V/STOVL fixed wing plane, after the Harrier, of course.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of detailed information around about it especially about if or when this plane was taken out of service.

Does anyone know much about this plane?





[edit on 12/8/04 by Hyperen]

It was not a very aircraft. It used a seperate engine to lift off and was worse than the Harrier in performance. The Russians did develop another V/STOVL aircraft called the Yak-141. It was a very good aircraft and it helped in the development of the F-35.

Originally posted by Aelita
Apparently the Yak-141 is a much cooler plane and the only supersonic VTOL jet in the world!

I heard they abandoned development of it for financial reasons, as per, and the hot jet exhaust had a major problem burning up runways when used for VTOL - and 'recirculation' of the hot jet gave all sorts of problems to the airframe.

It looked nice thought, but then again so did the 1960's Hawker P1154.

[edit on 12-8-2004 by sminkeypinkey]

Lets hope they can sort out the weight problems so we can use them on carriers.

What weight problem are you talking about I haven't heard any problems about using the F-35 on the Nimitz. Or are you talking about weight problems as in it weighs to much to take off? And Hyperen I will vote for bush to send him to his second term instead of stopping him


[edit on 12-8-2004 by WestPoint23]

There have been weight problems in the vertical take off version but it was recently released that they have pretty much solved the problems.

the Yak-38 was designed for the Soviet Navy to complement its new Kiev Class Aircraft carrying cruisers. While not as good as the harrier, it still was a solid aircraft(though criticisms are numerous on the net). It's successor, the Yak-141 is a brilliant piece of machinery and has design features similar to the VTOL version of the F-35.

thanks,

drfunk

Originally posted by drfunk
the Yak-38 was designed for the Soviet Navy to complement its new Kiev Class Aircraft carrying cruisers. While not as good as the harrier, it still was a solid aircraft(though criticisms are numerous on the net).

- Quite right drfunk.

There is also the much over-looked - but enormously important - experience and knowledge it gave the Soviets/Russians+ in using and handling V/Stol aircraft....and a supersonic one at altitude too, apparantly, although like most V/Stol aircraft range and payload were major issues with it.

(Apparantly it was news to everyone that it had a Stol/Stovl capability)

It's successor, the Yak-141 is a brilliant piece of machinery and has design features similar to the VTOL version of the F-35.
thanks,

drfunk

- Naa drfunk, the Yak 141 is way too old to be an F35 competitor/contemporary.

(and I still think the project's been cancelled)

My information says te earlier Yak 38's were withdrawn when the four carriers had been withdrawn by 1993. I believe the last examples are in storage.

The 2 Yak 141 demonstrators were exhibited in Moscow in 1993 and no longer flyable.

There is some talk of a new Yak but Russia has not got the funds to re-equip it's armed forces in anything like the manner she once had.



[edit on 13-8-2004 by sminkeypinkey]

sminkeypinkey,

I didn't that the yak-141 had design features like the F-35 in the sense it that it could be considered a contemporary to the F-35. The JSF VTOL will be an impressive aircraft and the yak-141 won't have anything on the advanced weapon systems and avionics of the F-35.

You are right, it is too old to be considered a contemporary or even a competitor to it.

I was referring to the similarity of the rearlift/cruise nozzle on the R-79 turbofan in the Yak-141 .

And the yak-141 was considered the 38's successor when it was first designed when it was known as the yak-41, though due to a lack of funding and the removal of the majority of the carrier/cruiser fleet, it never became a reality.

thanks,
drfunk


[edit on 13-8-2004 by drfunk]

As a byline to this thread, it was reported in Flight International in the 1980's that when the Indian Navy enquired about buying the Yak-38 in 1980 they were told by a high ranking General at the Soviet high command "The Yak-38 is very limited and has several technical difficulties. To be honest, if I were you, I'd buy the Sea Harrier.

The advice was followed.

[edit on 13-8-2004 by waynos]