Yakovlev Yak-36 (Freehand)

History of Yakovlev Yak-36 (hand-painted)

Yakovlev's road to the Yak-38 "Forger" passed the Yak-36 "Hand-painted" technology demonstrator. The aircraft was designed from the outset as a Vertical Short Take-Off and Landing Platform (V/STOL) to demonstrate the feasibility of a propulsive lift arrangement designed to achieve the desired outcome. Four test flights were completed by the end of the project, three of which were used for actual flight tests.

The Yak-36M is the prototype of the Yak-38, which entered service with the Soviet Navy in 1976.

Yakovlev engineers completed work on early VSTOL aircraft with the Yak-104 in the 1960s. This was based on the improved Yak-30 jet trainer, which laid the foundation for a more advanced form.

When the development of the Yak-104 was abandoned due to its complex elevator system, attention turned to a more compact model.

The original single-engine approach was abandoned in favor of a twin-engine offering, where the main propulsion units would be arranged side-by-side, taking in air at the nose of the aircraft through bifurcated air intakes. The same front-mounted engine in the design will also provide the necessary lift through rotating exhaust nozzles around the bottom of the fuselage. The design features a pilot under a bubble-like canopy with minimal frame.

At the stern is a vertical fin with an elevated horizontal plane. The main-wing aircraft itself is a mid-mounted, swept, truncated delta wing element with a 37-degree sweep along its trailing edge and an overall slight down angle (downward angle). Of particular note is the landing gear, which is arranged in a "bike" pattern with the main legs placed in a line below the centerline of the fuselage.

Outriggers have been added to the wingtips to prevent tipping over when walking on the ground.

The first prototype was reserved for static testing, so the second prototype was used for actual hover, landing, and takeoff maneuvers. The third prototype is an advanced model based on the experience gained with the first and second prototypes.

The fourth prototype became another example of seaworthiness. The third and fourth units ended up crashing during testing, and only the third example was rebuilt to continue working.

As a fighter development, it is envisaged that the production-grade Yak-36 will carry underwing cradles of conventional bomb, rocket or gun pods. It is also planned to deploy 1 x 23mm GSh-12L series gun.

However, due to the lack of momentum in the design, these were never incorporated - this will forever serve as a testbed, nothing more.

The first flight took place on January 9, 1963, albeit tethered for the safety of the pilot, and a completely unrestricted test flight was recorded on June 23 of that year. The first vertical-horizontal maneuver was finally performed on September 16, and March 24, 1966 marked the first vertical-horizontal launch (successful) to perform a vertical landing maneuver. In July 1967, during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution, the aircraft was shown to the public.

When it was discovered in the West, it was given the NATO codename "Freehand".

The Yak-36 was never implemented outside of test items, as it lacked useful qualities to be a combat-ready platform - primarily combat range and power. Therefore, the Yak-36M is considered a separate entry, influenced by the experience gained in the Yak-36 program - although the two aircraft in general bear little resemblance.

The Yak-38 later became one of the few front-line VSTOL aircraft in service - joining the vaunted British Harrier fighter jets that emerged during the Cold War.

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