A great variety of domestic aircraft, every day flying into the air over our country, and not all of them are equally known to the inhabitants. So, few people know about the Yak-42D model. The car is unique, deserves close attention.
Yak-42 today
The plane is on service flights Saratov Airlines. There is nothing surprising, it was in Saratov that the construction of this transport was set up at one time. In addition to the Saratov air transport hub, the Yak-42D is seen in Domodedovo. The aviation company has 14 cars in its fleet, 4 in storage.
Transport is in the parks of companies:
- KrasAvia
- IzhAvia;
- Tulpar Air;
- Terrible Air;
- Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation.
There was a Yak (aircraft) and was armed with Gazprom Avia, but recently the company completely abandoned its use. Several cars fly even abroad: in China, Pakistan and Iran, in Cuba.
Facts from the story
Yak-42 from Yakovlev Design Bureau was developed from 1972 to 1980. The goal was to replace the TU-134 - a good, but rapidly aging aircraft. 1988 was marked by the start of serial production of a new model - the Yak 42D. The car won with increased take-off weight and long range.
The industry manufactured 183 aircraft of this modification. Two of them were intended for strength tests. 11 are designed between 1977-1981. at the aircraft factory in Smolensk, 172 manufactured at the Saratov aircraft factory. Yak - a reliable aircraft, but its construction was still stopped. This happened in 2003. Ready-made aircraft fuselages, which were not destined to go to the runway, were cut into scrap metal.
Since the task was to make the Yak-42 as a short-haul passenger aircraft, they were designed with a view to a variety of airfields. The vehicle does not need a long runway or a large landing area, which is characteristic of the much more widely used Boeing and Airbus. The design avoided the use of an aerodrome ladder.
Aircraft feature
The Yakovlev Design Bureau designed unique aircraft sides. Now slang workers hangars decided to call them drops. Maintenance of such a board is a difficult task. As you know, the Saratov Aviation Plant first went bankrupt, after which it completely stopped. Obviously, production, including repair kits, spare parts, has been discontinued. But the love of their work helps mechanics to bring the Yaki to a satisfactory condition over and over again - and the cars again leave for the runway.
If you read about the Yak-42D reviews, it will leave the impression that the car is not too good, so the cessation of production is not such a bad event. It is often mentioned that transport in operation was uneconomical. Nevertheless, the prospects were not bad. Designers suggested the following steps:
- replace the engine with a more efficient system;
- install new equipment for aviation;
- lengthen the housing to accommodate more passengers.
The last offer is implemented in the form of Yak-42M. The vehicle serves 168 customers during the flight.
However, it was not possible to realize ideas. But the reviews of those who still manage to make a flight to the Yak-42, clearly say that the plane is still good, despite obsolescence.
Interesting Facts
Yak-42 has atypical engines - the work is configured without reverse. This allows you to land the unit at a very low speed, it does not need additional means of speed relief, except for the brakes built into the chassis, and the help of a mechanized wing.
In Georgia, in Rustavi, an airplane very similar to the Yak-42 (a type of Yak-40 transport) was decommissioned, refitted and opened inside a kindergarten.
YAK-42D is reflected in the music. So, Sergey Minaev, writing a parody of a famous Swedish song, wrote the following lines:
“If airplanes don't fly in bad weather - it’s not a problem,
"Ilya" can not, but "Yaki" - yes. "
And these are not empty words, because the requirements for the receiving site and weather conditions at the “Yaks” are significantly lower.
Now they no longer remember this, but decades ago there was a project for a transport aircraft based on the Yak-42.
Variety of models
For Yak-42D aircraft, the characteristics vary somewhat from assembly to assembly. This depends primarily on belonging to the class of aircraft:
The key difference in the arrangement of the passenger cabin. VIP equipment has:
- meeting room;
- rest room;
- Salon 1 class;
- salon accompanying.
For the main passenger, the lounge is equipped with a swivel chair and a sofa for two seats, which can be expanded into a full berth. There is a desktop (folds up if necessary), a wardrobe and a private bathroom.
The special meeting room has 4 swivel chairs and can be moved around the cabin. There is a large table, two sofas for 7 people. There is a video communication system and access to a satellite phone.
The first-class cabin is equipped with two-seat chairs, divided into blocks. Total blocks 4. Between them are set folding tables (two pieces). The accompanying group flies in the designated area, designed to accommodate 18 people at a time.
In the high-class YAK-42D airplane, the cabin is comfortable for long flights, equipped with a buffet, kitchen equipment. VIP equipment includes the latest equipment for navigation, piloting, as well as radio systems of the latest generation. Yak-42 fly equipped with domestic systems, there are cars with foreign control systems on board.
Step forward: YAK-42A
The development of the idea of the Yak-42D was supposed to be the Yak-42A. Serial production started in 1999. In comparison with the previous model improved:
- left door;
- noise absorption system;
- APU launch height (new level - 5 km);
- flap fixation system.
The left door gave passengers access to traditional ramps and modern telescopic crossings installed at almost all airports. Fixed flap positions improved aircraft performance. Updates to navigation and pilot equipment made it possible to use the aircraft on routes within the country and beyond.
YAK-42D: technical specifications
The aircraft has the following parameters:
- wing span 34.88 m;
- horizontal plumage is 10.8 m;
- vehicle length 36.38 m;
- parking height 9.83 m.
The Yak-42D chassis is characterized by such values:
- track 5.63 m;
- base 18.786 m.
The classic aircraft is designed to carry 120 passengers, the VIP version serves no more than 49 people per flight.
From the plane to the weather station
YAK-42D - serial, time-tested machine. This was the basis for the choice of designers who were tasked with creating a weather station capable of collecting weather data at different points in the atmosphere. The reorganization of the passenger vehicle was carried out by the employees of the plant named after Myasishchev.
The task required the removal of sensors provided with reliable protection to the surface of the aircraft. In order for the aircraft to withstand all the research blocks, six pylons on the wings had to be completed. The fuselage was covered with a variety of systems, devices for reading environmental information. Most of them are used in the work of the lidar, which measures how transparent the air is.
The total weight of the meteorological flying laboratory is 7 tons. The team has an operator, a journal and recording what can be distinguished by human vision: atmospheric phenomena, especially the surrounding space. The viewing area is expanded with plexiglass blisters. Designers built them on both sides. With your head in the blister, you can see everything that happens around the vehicle.
It would seem, why make a meteorological station out of Yak-42D? All data can be obtained from the satellite, is it really necessary more? But satellites fly strictly in a given orbit, at high speed, at a great distance from the surface of the planet. But the plane is above a specific area, controlling the atmosphere. Data from the satellite must be additionally checked, but the aircraft allows you to get accurate information. These significant advantages spurred the development of a unique mobile weather station. Finally, the aircraft is equipped with a system of emission of silver iodide into the environment, which causes precipitation.