The Yak-3 is a Soviet single-engine fighter aircraft, a single-seat, single-engine piston fighter-monoplane of mixed design. Some of the aircraft's components were made of wood and canvas (wings), while others were made of metal.
Years of production 1944-1946.
In the summer of 1942, in the battles near Stalingrad, the German army saw FW-190 fighters, which were significantly superior to USSR aircraft in speed, climb rate and armament. A fighter was needed that could compete on equal terms with the latest modifications of German aircraft.
To create the fighter, the Yak-1 aircraft was taken as a basis.
The first aircraft entered the USSR army in July 1944. One of the regiments that received the Yak-3, 41 aircraft, was on a mission to gain air superiority in the Lviv offensive operation. In the regiment, the share of experienced pilots was 60%, and 40% participated in battles for the first time. In the first three weeks there were seven encounters with German aircraft. A total of 23 aircraft were shot down: 3 Ju-87, 14 Bf-109G, 6 FW-190A. The regiment's combat losses were two fighters, three were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery fire.
The Yak-3 showed itself most successfully in the fight against enemy fighter aircraft. Using it to cover ground troops and escort bombers was impractical due to the limited supply of fuel.
In 1944, 90 aircraft were lost, in 1945, 25 aircraft. The problem of the fighter was its low flight range (the average duration of a combat mission was 40-45 minutes, taking into account the 20% fuel reserve), and the instrumentation made night flights impossible.
A total of 4,848 aircraft were produced.
Armament is a 20 mm automatic cannon and two 12.7 mm machine guns. The gun's ammunition capacity is 120 shells. Machine guns fire through the propeller. Ammunition for machine guns is 150 rounds per barrel.
Operation of the Yak-3 outside the USSR:
Albania: in the late 1940s, several Yak-3 aircraft, removed from service with the Yugoslav Air Force, were transferred to the Albanian Air Force without approval from the USSR.
Poland: received about 20 Yak-3 aircraft. At the end of 1946, the Yak-3 aircraft were replaced by the Yak-9P.
France: in August 1944, the Normandy-Niemen regiment began retraining for Yak-3 aircraft. The regiment operated the Yak-3 until the end of the war. After the war, it was decided to donate the regiment's aircraft to the French Republic. The regiment received 38 Yak-3 aircraft and in 1945 the aircraft were used in the Paris air defense system.
Yugoslavia: at the end of 1944, a regiment flying the Yak-3 was formed from Serbian pilots. After the war, Yak-3 aircraft were donated to Yugoslavia by the Soviet government. Yak-3 aircraft were operated in Yugoslavia until 1952.
The model is quite rare, in good vintage condition. The model was kept in a special rack.
Material: body - metal, aircraft elements - plastic. Scale 1/104.
A perfect piece for collectors or as a gift for a child.
State of the photo.
The color in the photo may vary depending on the monitor's settings and light reflection.
Dimensions:
Length - about 7.8 cm (3.07 inches)
Width - about 8.8 cm (3.46 inches)
Height - about 1.6 cm (0.63 inches)
Height with stand - about 7.4 cm (2.91 inches)
If you want to have such a model, please use the links:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/MityaUA
If you liked the store, let's have a coffee))))
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/pblad1970q