Yakovlev Yak-33

The Yakovlev Yak-33 was a vertical take-off and landing supersonic multi-purpose aircraft family, studied in the early 1960s, with variants of a basic design used to fulfil different roles, in a similar fashion to the Yak-25, Yak-27, Yak-28 family.

Several configurations were studied including canard and tailless deltas, however matching supersonic performance with VTOL ability seriously compromised the designs ability to carry out its primary missions. As with all VTOL aircraft The Take-off and landing requirements must come first.

Specifications (as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: approx. 27 m ()
• Wingspan: approx. 11 m ()
• Height: ()
• Powerplant: 2× Kolesov RD36-41 afterburning vectoring thrust turbojets, 7,000 kgf dry, 16,000 kgf wet + 6 to 8 lift engines (3,000 kgf) (15,432 lbf, 35,274 lbf (6,614 lbf)) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: Mach 3
• Cruise speed: Mach 2

References

• Gordon, Yefim (2005). OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinkley: Midland.