The Yak-12 was designed by Yakovlev's team to meet a requirement of the Soviet Air Force of 1944 for a new liaison and utility plane, to replace the obsolete Po-2biplane. It was also meant to be used in civil aviation as a successor to Yakovlev's AIR-6 of 1934, built in a relatively small series. Yakovlev's first proposal was a four-place high-wing aircraft, the Yak-10, built in January 1945. It won the competition with a low-wing Yak-13, based on the same fuselage, and a series of 40 Yak-10s were produced, powered with a 108 kW Shvetsov M-11M radial. In 1947, Yakovlev developed a new aircraft to replace the Yak-10. This was fitted with a more powerful 119 kW M-11FR, a new wing and undercarriage, and a fuselage with a revised shape. The new type was designated Yak-12, first flying in 1947. 788 of the basic variant were produced, including military observation planes, some Yak-12Sair ambulances, Yak-12SKhagricultural aircraft and Yak-12GR floatplanes. A distinguishing feature of the basic Yak-12, just like Yak-10, were engine cylinders with individual cowlings. It was a plane of a mixed construction and could take 1 or 2 passengers, apart from a pilot. The next generation Yak-12 entered production in 1952, starting with the Yak-12R. It was fitted with a new 194 kW Ivchenko AI-14R radial and all-metal construction. The wing area increased. This variant had the least wing loading of all Yak-12s, and therefore best STOL performance. After being lengthened to improve weight distribution, with further strengthening of the structure and other minor changes, from 1955 the Yak-12M was produced. A visible difference was a lengthened, curved tailfin. This variant became more universal, offering a bigger payload. It took a pilot and 3 passengers and could be fitted with dual controls for training, a stretcher for an ambulance role or an agricultural spraying device. It became the most numerous variant. The last generation, produced from 1957, was the Yak-12A. It was an aerodynamically refined variant, with a slimmer fuselage and a new wing. The cowling was smaller diameter. The rectangular wings were fitted with trapezoidal ends and automatic slats, also single struts replaced twin struts. Navigation equipment and controls were improved, and performance also increased. In the USSR, 3,801 of Yak-12s were built in all models. An experimental Yak-12B biplane was also developed, but did not enter production. The Yak-12M was licence-built from 1956 in Poland as the WSK-4 Okecie, or Jak-12M. From 1959, the Yak-12A was built in Poland, most for export to the USSR. In 1958, further development of the Yak-12M was carried out in Poland, becoming the PZL-101 Gawron. The Yak-12 was also produced in China as Shenyang type 5.
Operational history
Yak-12s first entered service in the Soviet Air Force as a liaison and artillery observation plane. Then, they were used also in the Soviet civilian aviation – mostly in the DOSAAFaero club for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft. Apart from the Soviet Union, Yak-12s were used in Poland, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia, and Hungary. Licence-built Shenyangs were used in China and other countries. In some countries, including Poland, Hungary and Czechoslovakia, the Russian name was transcribed as Jak-12. In the Polish Air Force, about 90 Yak-12s were used from 1951, as liaison, patrol, and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s. Most were next handed over to civil aviation. In Poland, the first civilian model was acquired in 1952, and larger numbers were used from the 1960s. They were used mostly in regional aeroclubs for pilot training, parachute training, transport, and glider towing. 21 were used as air ambulances. Some civil Yak-12s remain in use in 2006. On July 12, 2012, a Yak-12 owned by Canada's Kinross Gold Corporation, crashed shortly after takeoff from an airport in Nouakchott, Mauritania.
Description
Metal construction or mixed construction braced high-wing monoplane, conventional in layout, metal and canvas covered. Wings fitted with flaps and slats. Four-seat cabin. Conventional fixed landing gear with tail wheel. Single radial engine: 5-cylinder M-11FR – Yak-12 basic variant; 9-cylinder AI-14R – Yak-12R, M and A. Two-blade propeller. Two fuel tanks in wings, 225 l each.
Czechoslovakian Air Force only one Yak 12R tested.
Hungarian Air Force
Military of Mongolia
Polish Air Force operated Yak-12 aircraft since 1951, as liaison, patrol and general utility planes. Most were withdrawn in the 1970s, the last in the 1980s.
DOSAAF aero club operated Yak-12s for transport, pilot training, parachute training, and glider towing. They were also used as air ambulances and agricultural aircraft.
