Yak-3 (Як-3)

In the summer of 1942, in the battles near Stalingrad, the enemy saw FV-190 fighters, significantly superior to Soviet aircraft in speed, rate of climb and armament. Yakovlev understood that his Yak-1 aircraft urgently needed modernization. A fighter capable of competing on equal terms with the latest modifications of German aircraft was required[1].

In 1942-1943, in order to improve the flight characteristics of the Yak-1 serial fighter, two aircraft with the VK-105PF engine were manufactured. To improve the aerodynamics of the aircraft, the outer contours were redesigned.


Yak-3 at the Vadim Zadorozhny Museum of Technology
The prototype version of the Yak-3 was called the Yak-1M. It differed from the Yak-1 with a shortened wing (its area is 14.85 square meters instead of 17.15) and a reduced tail, the canvas skin of the fuselage was replaced with plywood[1]. The aircraft received a new engine modification — VK-105PF2. The index "P" in the name of the engine means a cannon version — a 20 mm cannon was installed between the cylinder blocks and fired through the propeller hub. To improve aerodynamic properties, changes were also made to the airframe: the oil radiator was changed (the oil radiator, previously located under the engine, was moved to the wing, and its air intake was abolished and replaced with inlet openings in the wing root [a]), the windshield now consisted of one piece, which improved visibility.