Yakovlev Yak-15

Yak-15
The only surviving Yak-15, displayed at the Vadim Zadorozhny Technical Museum, Moscow (2012)
General information
TypeFighter
ManufacturerYakovlev
Primary userSoviet Air Force
Number built280
History
Manufactured1946–47
Introduction date1947
First flight24 April 1946
Developed fromYakovlev Yak-3
Developed intoYakovlev Yak-17

The Yakovlev Yak-15 (Russian: Яковлев Як-15; NATO reporting name: Feather,[1] USAF/DOD designation Type 2[2]) is a first-generation Soviet turbojet fighter developed by the Yakovlev design bureau (OKB) immediately after World War II. The main fuselage was that of Yakovlev Yak-3 piston-engine fighter modified to mount a reverse-engineered German Junkers Jumo 004 engine. The Yak-15 and the Swedish Saab 21R were the only two jets to be successfully converted from piston-power to enter production.[3] 280 aircraft were built in 1947. Although nominally a fighter, it was mainly used to qualify piston-engine-experienced pilots to fly jets.

  1. ^ Gordon 2002, p. 51
  2. ^ Parsch, Andreas and Aleksey V. Martynov. "Designations of Soviet and Russian Military Aircraft and Missiles." designation-systems.net, 2008. Retrieved: 19 August 2011
  3. ^ Gunston 1995, p. 472