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| Yak-1 | |
|---|---|
 An I-26 prototype of the Yak-1 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Yakovlev OKB |
| Primary user | Soviet Air Force |
| Number built | 8,700 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1940–1944 |
| Introduction date | 1940 |
| First flight | 13 January 1940 |
| Retired | 1950 |
| Variants | Yakovlev Yak-3 Yakovlev Yak-7 Yakovlev Yak-9 Yakovlev Yak-11 Yakovlev Yak-15 |
The Yakovlev Yak-1 (Russian: Яковлев Як-1) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. The Yak-1 was a single-seat monoplane with a composite structure and wooden wings; production began in early 1940.[1]
The Yak-1 was a maneuverable, fast and competitive fighter aircraft.[1][2] The composite-wooden structure made it easy to maintain and the engine proved to be reliable.[3] It formed the basis for subsequent developments from the Yakovlev bureau and was the founder of a family of aircraft, with some 43,000 being built.[4][5] As a reward, designer Alexander Yakovlev was awarded the Order of Lenin (Russian: Орден Ленина, Orden Lenina) (the highest civilian decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union), a 100,000 ruble prize, and a ZIS motor car.[6][1][7]