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Summary: Yakovlev Yak-3U aircraft Airplane blueprint for the Yakovlev, Yak-3U ... Aviation history and aircraft blueprints/plans. The Yak fighters were gradually improved with the structure being redesigned with increased use of metal in the fuselage and wing structure. Two new Yakovlev fighters were developed in parallel programs. The Yak-3 was a further development of the Yak-1M. First flown in late 1943, the -3 proved to be an extremely capable dogfighter. Finally getting to operational squadrons in July of 1944, the new fighter quickly began taking a serious toll on the Luftwaffe.
Demonstrating outstanding maneuverability and a very high rate of climb, the Yak-3 was to become the bane of Luftwaffe fighter pilots for the remainder of the war. Finally, there was a Yak that was markedly superior to the fighters flown by Germany. As the more powerful VK-107 engine became available, Yakovlev installed a small number into existing airframes. Meanwhile, development of a lighter weight fighter with far more metal in the airframe resulted in the Yak-3U.
Top speed was about the same at 446 mph (vs 407 mph for the VK-105 powered Yak-3), but the rate of climb improved from 4,400 fpm to over 5,100 fpm. The Yak-3U was powered by the ASh-82FN 14 cylinder radial engine. In terms of dogfighting ability, the Yak-3 was the best developed by the Soviet Union during the war years.
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Warbird Fighters
