The Yakovlev AIR-1 was a 1920s Soviet

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

 two-seat light biplane

Biplane

A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...

 the first aircraft designed and built by Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev.

Development

Yakovlev designed his first aircraft while working at the Zhukovsky Military Aviation Academy; the aircraft was a two-seat light biplane powered by a 60 hp ADC Cirrus

ADC Cirrus

-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...

 piston engine. Although the directors of the Academy were opposed to the design, the aircraft was built in the Academy Club in his own time. Originally designated VVA-3 (Military Aviation Academy-3) Yakovlev later re-designated it the AIR-1 in honour of Alexei Ivanovich Rykov, then country's premier (the Chairman

Premier of the Soviet Union

The office of Premier of the Soviet Union was synonymous with head of government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics . Twelve individuals have been premier...

 of the Council of People's Commissars) and the president of the Osoviakihm. The first flight on 12 May 1927 was flown by Yakovlev's friend J.I. Piontkovsky, who later rated the flying qualities as excellent; Piontkovsky later flew the aircraft non-stop from Sevastopol to Moscow in 15½ hours, a distance of 1240 km. In 1928 Yakovlev produced an improved variant, the AIR-2; six were built between 1928 and 1931 fitted with different five-cylinder radial engine

Radial engine

The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...

s. One aircraft powered by a Siemens engine was designated AIR-2S and was fitted with floats designed by V B Shavrov.

Variants

AIR-1

Prototype with a 60 hp ADC Cirrus

ADC Cirrus

-See also:-Bibliography:* Gunston, Bill. World Encyclopaedia of Aero Engines. Cambridge, England. Patrick Stephens Limited, 1989. ISBN 1-85260-163-9...

 engine.

AIR-2

Improved variant fitted with either a Siemens, Walter NZ-60 or NAMI M-23 radial-engine.

AIR-2S

AIR-2 fitted with two wooden floats.

VVS-3

Original designation of the AIR-1

Specifications (AIR-1)

External links

• Yakovlev AIR-1