Yak-1 with improved cockpit view, armoring and armament (Yak-1B), A.S.Yakovlev

In June 1942 series Yak-1 (N°35-60 built at Factory N°292) serving with Moscow PVO district was modified at the Yakovlev OKB. Following changes were made:

Cockpit/Canopy:

• Upper decking of the fuselage behind the cabin was lowered, providing pilot all-around view;
• Windshield side sections and the sliding section sides made flat to reduce optical distortions;
• Rear view mirror installed;
• Canopy shape was changed to reduce drag;

Armor:
• Front and rear bullet-proof glass plates;
• Armored head cover on the sliding section of the canopy;
• Left arm protection;

Armament:
• Two ShKAS machineguns replaced by single
UBS with 200 rounds;
• Pneumatic system of gun reload was removed, pneumatic-mechanical and mechanical firing system replaced by electro-mechanical.
• New R-1 control stick was installed. Two firing levers were replaced by two buttons on the stick head - like on Bf-109. Now pilot did not have to move his left hand from throttle control to the firing levers.
• Disliked by pilots optical gunsight OPB was replaced by VV-1

Similar canopy modifications were performed on service Yak-1 in field conditions by pilots and technicians of 42^th IAP (Maj.F.I.Shinkarenko). Simple aircraft construction did not require special tooling to modify, and quality of Shinkarenko Yak's were same as factory-built Yak-1b.

New armament saved 8.5kg of weight and resulted in 15% increase in aircraft salvo. Large caliber bullets of the UBS resulted in more serious damage than the rifle ShKAS ammo. Indeed, simple 'salvo' characteristic does not objectively reflects the aircraft firepower.

Flight tests of modified Yak-1 N°35-60 was test-flown in July 4 to 14, 1942. 16 flights (totalling 8h15min) were performed by test-pilots of NII VVS A.G.Proshakov, P.M.Stefanovskij, A.G.Kochetkov, L.M.Kuvshinov, V.I.Khomiakov and supervised by leading engineer A.Pronin and technician L.V.Nikolaev.

Aircraft handling was identical to series Yak-1, but all pilots agreed that all-around view is superior to all fighter aircraft in the VVS inventory.

The GKO ordered new Yak into production on August 11, 1942. First 10 Yak-1B were assembled in September, and starting the next months Yak-1B replaced all other Yak-1 variants on the production lines.

Official combat trials were carried out starting December 10 1942 until January 28 1943. 58 aircraft were assigned to the 32^th Guards IAP of 210^th IAD 3^rd VA (Kalinin Front) and 176^th IAP of 283^rd IAD 16^th VA (Stalingrad Front). 669 sorties were flown (617h), during which 38 air combats took place. 25 enemy aircraft were shot down: 5xBf-109F, 6xFw-190, 8xJu-87, 3xHe-111, 2xHs-126, 1xJu-88 while 6 Yak-1B were lost.

Improved armament, fire control ad armoring of the pilot's compartment were highly priced by pilots and accepted as a standard for all Soviet fighters.

Since March 1943 (127th batch) ShVAK was increased from 120 to 140 rounds and UBS from 200 to 240.

Total production of Yak-1B was 4188 aircraft.