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Yakovlev Yak-9P
If the MiG-15 was the most famous
Soviet jet fighter of the Korean War, then the Yak-9 was its equal in World
War Two. Developed as part of the Yak series of V-12 powered fighters,
the Yak-9 was a direct descendant of the Yak-1. Yakovlev fighters reached
their pinnacle with the Yak-9U of 1944. Early Yak fighters were predominately
manufactured of wood and wood products. During the course of WWII, the
Yak was repeatedly refined, incorporating more metal construction with each
new major variant. The Yak-9U introduced many aerodynamic refinements that
allowed for greater speed on the limited power of the M-105PF-2 engine.
In late 1944, a more powerful engine was introduced to the production line.
Making 1,650 horsepower, the Klimov M-107A (later designated VK-107A) pushed
the 9U up to 418 mph at its best altitude. Likewise, climb rate was greatly
improved, up to 4,500 feet per minute from sea level. Both China and North
Korea would receive a variant of the 9U, essentially an export version
designated the Yak-9P. These differed from the 9U in minor details, such
as eliminating the outer wing fuel tanks and adding a pair of 12.7mm machine
guns. Like the Lovochkin La-9/11, the Yak-9U was obsolete as a fighter.
U.N. jet fighters typically made short work of the Yaks whenever and where
ever they were encountered. American Mustangs and Corsairs found the Yaks
relatively easy to deal with. While the Yak was a decent piston engine
fighter, it was shot down easily by the American pilots. The lack of pilot
skill, hampered by poor tactics made the communist Yaks prime targets for
any U.N. pilot looking for an easy victory. For all intents, flying a Yak
into an area where U.N. fighters would be encountered was not much less than suicide.
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