Yak-112: the failed Russian Cessna of the 90s

Yakovlev Design Bureau is well known not only for military vehicles, but also for sports aircraft. However, this time the designers paid attention to light aircraft. Western models dominated this sector of the market: the Cessna alone is worth something. Its two and four-seat aircraft are very popular in the world. So the Yakovlevites decided not to lag behind.

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Obviously, the Yak-12, produced back in 1946, was taken as the base. But the designers only borrowed from him the aerodynamic design of a strut-braced high-wing aircraft. Work on the project began in 1988. The goal is to create a universal aircraft with a comfortable cabin and an ergonomic pilot's workplace.


The car was intended for the transportation of three passengers, training and education of future pilots, patrolling and participation in the operations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The first time the device took to the sky from the airfield of the plant in Smolensk in the fall of 1992.

What is special about the design

The spacious cabin with panoramic windows is striking, the high arrangement of the wings further improves visibility. Chassis - non-retractable, tricycle. It is allowed to install skis or floats. A feature of the Yak-112 is the ability to operate on unpaved strips.


This is facilitated by pneumatic shock absorbers on the chassis. To take off, it is enough to pick up a speed of 125 km / h. It will take a runway up to 350 m long, and 230 m will be enough for landing. The wing is two-spar, consists of fourteen ribs. For the convenience of the pilot and passengers, doors are provided on both sides.

Engine

The prototype with tail number "001" took off from the ground with the power unit IO-360-ES from Teledyne Continental Motors. The analysis of the flights showed that the car lacks the power-to-weight ratio of 210 hp. With.


The production of the Yak-112 was moved to Irkutsk. Local specialists improved the aircraft by installing an IO-540-ES engine manufactured by Textron Lycoming. Both installations rotate a propeller with three blades manufactured by Hartzell (USA).

avionics and performance characteristics

On-board equipment can have, depending on the wishes of the customer, a different configuration. The aircraft is equipped with equipment from the manufacturer Bendix King (as on Cessna). The installed equipment (Russian by 10%) makes it possible to fly in any weather day and night. The main parameters of the Yak-112:

✅ wingspan, length - 10,25 and 6,96 m
✅ empty weight and maximum takeoff - 0,775 and 1,34 tons
✅ load - 3 passengers or 270 kg
✅ engine power - 260 "horses"
✅ speed and ceiling - up to 250 km / h and 4 km
✅ range - 2 thousand km

The developers claim that the warranty period of the aircraft is at least twenty years! Or 10 thousand flight hours. However, in terms of import substitution, everything is not so good: if taken as a whole, the ratio of Russian and foreign is estimated as 50/50. There are no major modifications. There is the Yak-112I with the IO-550M engine and the Yak-112P on splashdown floats. A six-seater Yak-112A was also being prepared for production.


Options for installing Russian engines were worked out, but in the 90s it was unrealistic to find anything suitable.

Today

In total, only 6 aircraft were built: the idea of ​​​​the Russian Cessna, which is produced in tens of thousands of copies, did not come true. The base cost of the new aircraft was declared at 120-140 thousand dollars. It is known that Kazakhstan was going to order ten copies in Irkutsk or Smolensk. There are no data on other potential buyers, as well as on the future fate of the produced cars. There were no offers to sell this, one might say, rare aircraft.