72342 YAK-42D

The Yak-42 (NATO code: Clobber) was a Soviet, and is now a Russian low-wing communication and passenger plane from the post-war period. The prototype flight took place in 1975. Serial production was carried out in the years 1979-2002. 188 aircraft of this type were built in its course. The drive was provided by three turbofan engines ZMKB Progress D-36 with a thrust of 63.75 kN each. The machine is 36.38 meters long with a wingspan of 34.88 meters. The Yak-42 aircraft was developed in the Yakovlev design office as a successor to such machines as the Il-18, An-24 or Tu-134, and therefore as a passenger machine designed for medium-distance flights. It was also assumed that the plane would not require extensive back-up facilities at the airport, and its operation would be as simple and quick as possible. In order to shorten the research and development works, many solutions from the Yak-40 aircraft were used, with several significant changes introduced, the most important of which was the use of completely new engines with significantly greater thrust and better economy. Several development versions were created in the course of production, among them: the Yak-42ML (version with a modernized avionics), the Yak-42D (the extended-range version) or the Yak-42R (the version used to test the radar for the Yak-141 aircraft). Until February 2018, Yak-42 planes participated in 9 air crashes.