Just the Breighton based Yak-18A doing its thing at sunset! The Yakovlev Yak-18A was a Soviet aircraft primarily used for pilot training. It was originally developed as a basic and advanced trainer aircraft for military pilots. The Yak-18A featured a more powerful engine and retractable landing gear (compared to earlier Yak-18 models), allowing it to better simulate the handling of frontline combat aircraft. While not a combat aircraft, it was used by various air forces within the Eastern Bloc a

Legendary Soviet Trainers and Fighters: The Backbone of WWII Air Combat The Soviet air effort relied on rugged machines like the Polikarpov Po-2 trainer, built in 1928, which reached 94 mph and famously served as a "Night Witch" bomber. For high-speed combat, the Yakovlev Yak-1, introduced in 1940, hit 367 mph, providing the maneuverability needed to challenge the Luftwaffe. Later, the Lavochkin La-7 (1944) reached a blistering 411 mph. These versatile aircraft, produced in tens of thousands, fo