Beating Gravity - Yakovlev Yak-36 Freehand

The Yak-36 was the USSR's first operational VTOL jet, after intensive VTOL experimentation through the 1960s. Design began in about 1962, and early in development the decision was taken to use deflected thrust for the vertical power component.

The two engines were mounted side by side in the broad fuselage. Each had a single cascade-type vectoring nozzle on its side of the lower fuselage.

One flap was used to prevent re-ingestion of exhaust gases, and another to reduce interaction of the two exhaust plumes. Hovering control was provided by reaction jets using engine bleed air, in a similar manner to that on the Hawker-Siddeley P.1127.

Landing gear configuration was also similar to that on the P.1127, consisting of tandem main units in the fuselage and small outrigger wheels on the wingtips.

Twelve evaluation aircraft are thought to have been built during the 1960s. It is also thought that an autostabilisation system and a modest array of underwing armaments were evaluated.

Yakovlev Yak-36 data:
POWERPLANT: Probably two Tumanskii R-11 8,818 lb (4000 kg) st or two Tumanskii R-13 11,023 lb (5000 kg) st thrust engines. MAX. TAKEOFF WEIGHT: About 16,534 lb (7500 kg) SPAN: 27 ft 0 in (8.25 m) LENGTH: 57 ft 5 in (17.5 m)	MAXIMUM SPEED: Probably 559+ mph at optimum altitude OPERATIONAL RANGE: Unknown, but low SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM: