Yak-7 fighter by K.V.Sinelschikov

75k b/w Yak-7s on the assembly line, from "Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War" by Yefim Gordon and Dmitri Khazanov, Vol.1 p.134
Courtesy of

Yak-7 with M-105PA engine and VISh-61P propeller was a conversion of the Yak-7UTI trainer into single-seat combat aircraft. Conversion was performed at Factory N°301 following initiative of the leading engineer K.V.Sinelschikov and team of the Yakovlev OKB members. This team was assigned to the factory to assist in mass production of the Yak-7UTI. They used series aircraft N°04-11 and introduced following changes:

• foto-gun removed
• equipment of the rear cockpit deleted
• armor plate installed behind the pilot
• protected fuel tanks with neutral gas system (from CO₂ canister)
• armament increased to the Yak-1 standard
(ShVAK120 rounds and 2 ShKASwith 1500 rounds)
• rails for 6 RS-82 and corresponding cockpit equipment added

Tailwheel and the canopy remained same as on Yak-7UTI, and except the RS-82 rails both aircraft had identical appearance. New fighter was more advanced than contemporary series Yak-1. It had following advantages:

• Wheel size better matched aircraft weight
• Detachable engine cradle allowed easy installation of the new engines on the service aircraft
• Forward shift of the CoG improved fighter’s longitudinal stability
• Handling was improved when proportion between the rudder and tailplane areas was revised
• Reduced risk of nose-over allowed more effective use of the wheel brakes and reduced the landing roll

Empty space of the second cockpit could be used in a number of ways, quite unusual for fighters:

• ferrying tech personal to new dislocation site
• retrieving of downed pilots
• urgent delivery of spare parts
• installation of bombs or photo-reconnaissance gear

Technical commission of the OKB rated Yak-7 fighter as a perspective design allowing numerous modifications. First reaction of A.S.Yakovlev was skeptical, but after detailed study he approved the conversion. He presented the the Yak-7 design to the top officials, and, in turn, gained support. In August 1941 production was ordered on two factories - N°153 (Novosibirsk) and N°301 (Moscow).

Production of the original Yak-7 was not really a big series one: 51 were assembled in Moscow (Factory N°301) in September-October, and eleven more at Factory N°153 in December 1941. Pause in November was caused by Factory N°301 evacuation and integration into plant N°153.

Yak-7 fighter N°04-11 was evaluated at NII VVS and received positive resume. Detailed studies of aircraft handling were carried out by factory N°153 test pilot A.N.Lazarev and TsAGI team. Yak-7 was considered superior against LaGG-3 and spin safe. Spin could be stopped immediately by placing stick and pedals into neutral position.

In September 1941 Yak-7 N°06-05 with RS-82 launchers installed was sent to the NIPAV (Scientific Trial Range of the Aircraft Armament). Better stability of the Yak-7 and decreased salvo proved its advantage over rocket-armed LaGG-3 and MiG-3:

Tests also revealed defects in landing gear, pneumatic system and insufficient assembly quality. Original Yak-7 fighter was replaced in production by improved Yak-7A.

Predecessors	Modifications
Yak-7UTI	Yak-7A

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Created December 17, 2000

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