View source for Yakovlev Yak-1

{{Aircraft infobox
| name = Yakovlev Yak-1
| image = I-26.jpg
| caption = Yakovlev Yak-1. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via [[commons:File:I-26.jpg|Wikimedia Commons]]
| make = Yakovlev
| type = Fighter aircraft
| first_flight = 13 January 1940
| produced = 1940–1944
| number_built = 8,700
| seats = 1
| engine = Klimov M-105PF, 1260 hp
| category = Military aircraft
}}

The '''Yakovlev Yak-1''' is a Soviet World War II fighter with a mixed metal-and-wood structure and wooden wings. Production began in early 1940, and 8,700 were built.<ref name="wp"/> It was fast, maneuverable and easy to maintain, and it started a family of Yakovlev fighters of which about 43,000 were built in all.<ref name="wp"/> None are on the U.S. civil register.<ref name="faa"/>

== History ==
Before the war Alexander Yakovlev was best known for light sport airplanes. His Yak-4 light bomber impressed the Soviet government enough that his bureau was asked to design a fighter around the Klimov V-12 engine.<ref name="wp"/> The specification came out on July 29, 1939, and the first prototype flew on January 13, 1940.<ref name="wp"/>

As a reward, Yakovlev received the Order of Lenin, a 100,000-ruble prize and a ZIS car.<ref name="wp"/> The Yak-1 led on to the Yak-7 and Yak-3, and the Soviet air force flew it until 1950.<ref name="wp"/>

== Specifications (Yak-1b) ==
<div class="aw-wide">
{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! Yak-1b
|-
| Crew || 1
|-
| Length || 8.48 m
|-
| Wingspan || 10.0 m
|-
| Height || 2.64 m
|-
| Engine || Klimov M-105PF, 1260 hp (V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine)
|-
| Propeller || constant-speed propeller
|-
| Maximum speed || 592 km/h
|-
| Range || 700 km
|}
</div>
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.<ref name="wp"/>

{{Owner notes}}

== Photos ==
<gallery mode="packed" heights="170">
File:Yakolev Yak-1 (22 white) (27167295779).jpg|Yakovlev Yak-1. Photo: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0
File:Истребители Як-1Б 14-го ГИАП на полевом аэродроме перед боевым вылетом.jpg|Yakovlev Yak-1. Photo: Михаил Трахман, Public domain
File:Yakovlev Yak-1 first series.jpg|Yakovlev Yak-1 first series. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
File:Yakovlev Yak-1B.jpg|Yakovlev Yak-1B. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain
File:Yakovlev Yak-1 in Museum of technique 2016-08-16.JPG|Yakovlev Yak-1. Photo: Mike1979 Russia, CC BY-SA 4.0
File:Yakovlev Yak-1 tail in Museum of technique 2016-08-16.JPG|Yakovlev Yak-1. Photo: Mike1979 Russia, CC BY-SA 4.0
</gallery>
All photos are from [[commons:Main Page|Wikimedia Commons]]; click a photo for its full credit and license.

== Buying a Yakovlev Yak-1 ==
{{For sale soon}}

== Sources ==
<references>
<ref name="wp">Wikipedia, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-1 Yakovlev Yak-1]", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.</ref>
<ref name="faa">Federal Aviation Administration, [https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certification/aircraft_registry/releasable_aircraft_download Releasable Aircraft Database], file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.</ref>
</references>