Yakovlev Yak-28

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-28

The Yakovlev Yak-28 is a swept wing, turbojet-powered combat aircraft used by
the Soviet Union. Produced initially as a tactical bomber, it was also
manufactured in reconnaissance, electronic warfare, interceptor, and trainer
versions, known by the NATO reporting names Brewer, Firebar, and Maestro
respectively. Based on the Yak-129 prototype first flown on 5 March 1958, it
began to enter service in 1960.

The Yak-28 was first seen by the West at the Tushino air show in 1961. Western
analysts initially believed it to be a fighter rather than an attack aircraft —
and a continuation of the Yak-25M, — and it was designated "Flashlight". After
its actual role was realized, the Yak-28 bomber series was redesignated
"Brewer".

The Yak-28 had a large mid-mounted wing, swept at 45 degrees. The tailplane set
halfway up the vertical fin (with cutouts to allow rudder movement). Slats were
fitted on the leading edges and slotted flaps were mounted on the trailing edges
of the wings. The two Tumansky R-11 turbojet engines, initially with 57 kN
(12,795 lbf) thrust each, were mounted in pods, similar to the previous Yak-25.
The wing-mounted engines and bicycle-type main landing gear (supplemented by
outrigger wheels in fairings near the wingtips) were widely spaced, allowing
most of the fuselage to be used for fuel and equipment. It was primarily
subsonic, although Mach 1 could be exceeded at high altitude.

Total production of all Yak-28s was 1,180.


Role
Medium bomber
Reconnaissance
Electronic warfare
Interceptor

National origin
Soviet Union

Manufacturer
Yakovlev

First flight
5 March 1958

Introduction
1960

Retired
1992 (Belorussia)

Status
retired

Primary users
Soviet Air Forces
Soviet Air Defence Forces
Russian Air Force
Ukrainian Air Force

Number built
1,180

It was in a Yak-28 that Captain Boris Kapustin and Lieutenant Yuri Yanov
performed a heroic act on 6 April 1966. After one of the engines on their
aircraft malfunctioned they were ordered to divert to attempt a landing in
Soviet zone of Germany, but lost control of the aircraft and strayed into the
airspace of West Berlin. The crew managed to avoid a housing estate but crashed
into Lake Stößensee without ejecting. They were posthumously awarded the medal
of the Red Banner. Their bodies, along with the wreckage, were raised from the
lake by Royal Naval divers from Portsmouth who also retrieved important top
secret material from the plane, including the engines, which were taken to RAF
Gatow to be inspected by RAF and American engineers. The first engine was
recovered on April 18, 1966 and the second a week later; both engines were
returned to the Soviets on May 2, 1966.

The Yak-28P was withdrawn in the early 1980s, but trainer and other versions
remained in service until after the fall of the Soviet Union, flying until at
least 1992. The reconnaissance and ECM aircraft were eventually replaced by
variants of the Sukhoi Su-24.

Specifications (Yak-28P)

General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 21.6 m (75 ft 0 in)
Wingspan: 12.50 m (41 ft 0 in)
Height: 3.95 m (12 ft 11 in)
Wing area: 37.6 m² (405 ft²)
Empty weight: 9,970 kg (21,980 lb)
Loaded weight: 15,000 kg (33,069 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 20,000 kg (44,092 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Tumansky R-11 afterburning turbojets, 46 kN dry, 62 kN with
afterburning (10,140 lbf dry, 13,670 lbf with afterburning) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 1840 km/h (1142 mph)
Range: 2,500 km (1,550 mi)
Service ceiling: 16,750 m (54,954 ft)
Wing loading: 531 kg/m² (108.6 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.62

Armament

2 × R-98M (AA-3 'Anab') air-to-air missiles, usually one R-98TM infrared and one
R-98RM semi-active radar homing
2 × K-13A (AA-2 'Atoll') short-range missiles (occasionally fitted)




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