The Yakovlev AIR-1 (VVA-3) was a 1920s

Soviet The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...

two-seat light

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

, the first aircraft designed and built by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev.

Development

Yakovlev designed his first aircraft while working at the Zhukovsky Military Aviation Academy; the aircraft was a two-seat light biplane powered by a ADC Cirrus piston engine. Although the directors of the academy were opposed to the design, the aircraft was built in the Academy Club on his own time. Originally designated VVA-3 (Military Aviation Academy-3) Yakovlev later redesignated it the AIR-1 in honour of Alexei Ivanovich Rykov, the country's premier (the

Chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

of the

Council of People's Commissars The Council of People's Commissars (CPC) (), commonly known as the ''Sovnarkom'' (), were the highest executive (government), executive authorities of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR), the Soviet Union (USSR), and the Sovi ...

) and the president of the ''Osoviakihm''. The first flight on 12 May 1927 was flown by Yakovlev's friend J.I. Piontkovsky, who later rated the flying qualities as ''excellent''; Piontkovsky later flew the aircraft non-stop from Sevastopol to Moscow in 15½ hours, a distance of 1240 km. In 1928 Yakovlev produced an improved variant, the AIR-2; six were built between 1928 and 1931 fitted with different five-cylinder

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...

s. One aircraft powered by a Siemens engine was designated AIR-2S and was fitted with floats designed by V B Shavrov. 1986 CPA 5780

Variants

;AIR-1 :Prototype with a ADC Cirrus engine. ;AIR-2 :Improved variant fitted with either a Siemens, Walter NZ-60 or NAMI M-23 radial engine. ;AIR-2S :AIR-2 fitted with two wooden floats. ;VVA-3 :Original designation of the AIR-1

Specifications (AIR-1)

References

Notes

Bibliography

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External links

Yakovlev AIR-1
{{Yakovlev aircraft 1920s Soviet and Russian civil utility aircraft 1920s Soviet and Russian sport aircraft AIR-1 Biplanes Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1927 Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Single-engined piston aircraft