144-009 YAKOVLEV YAK-23

The Yakovlev Yak-23 is a Soviet light rhodium jet fighter in a mid-wing, all-metal structure. The flight of the prototype took place in 1947, and serial production continued in the period 1949-1950. The propulsion unit was a Klimov RD-500 turbojet engine, which was a faithful copy of the British Rolls-Royce Derwent V. Although externally similar to the Yak-15, the Yak-23 was a new design, with a new engine, wings and a rear fuselage. The aircraft served in the USSR aviation for a relatively short time, based in secondary operational areas. From 1951, it was quickly replaced by the more modern MiG 15. It was quickly exported to Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia and, above all, to Poland, which bought about 100 aircraft of this type. In the course of the short development of the structure, three versions were created: Yak-23 (fighter version), Yak-23UTI (two-seater school version) and Yak-23DC (prototype school version created in Romania). Technical data: length: 8.12m, wingspan: 8.73m, height: 3.3m, maximum speed: 923km / h, rate of climb: 22m / s, practical ceiling: 10000m, maximum range (with additional tanks): 1030km Armament: permanent - 2 NR-23 cannons, 23mm.