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This site is a joint 
venture of several 
air enthusiasts 
from Minsk. For some 
years we edited and 
published  the only 
aviation magazine 
in Belarus - the "AeroPlan". 
But present situation is
 such,  that we find it 
better to carry out our 
beloved job in virtual 
space.

Yak-7 DEVELOPMENT

In 1940 theYakovlev design bureau has received the order for development of two seat trainer plane. The new design based on Yak-1, but differed first of all by presence of the second cabin, armament of 2 ShKAS machine guns (in a series there was only one), changed horizontal empennage with the metal stabilizer, new chassis with increased pneumatic, and the wing displaced 100 mm back. Installation of increased water and oil radiators became a large advantage. In a series the trainer has received a designation "Yak-7UTI" (top profile). When the war began, and the need for fighters became catastrophic, the trainer was altered into the fighter plane. The motor-cannon and two ShKAS MGs, self-sealing fuel tanks and armor protection for pilot were incorporated. In September 1941 the new fighter was started in series production under a designation of Yak-7 (second profile). A series was small, and since January 1941 after a number of changes Novosibirsk Zavod began to deliver a Yak-7A. But only updated Yak-7B (third profile) became really mass-produced version. The armament was considerably increased by replacement of ShKAS MGs with heavy UBSs. Yak-7B went into a series production in April 1942. In opinion of many pilots Yak-7B was the best fighter for that period. The fourth profile represents slightly modified version with reactive exhausts and changed windshield.

Of interest is Yak-7-37 (fifth profile) version, designed in 1942. It was armed with 37-mm cannon MPSh-37 and two machine guns UBS. To provide a space for the new cannon and to compensate its mass the cabin was moved 400 mm back. The aft cabin was removed.In August 1942 a series of 22 machines for combat trials was manufactured. The fighters have flown with 42 iap 240 iad at Northern front with considerable success.

In autumn 1942 a version with lowered rear fuselage and bubble-top canopy was developed (sixth profile), but it is not clear from the sources, whether the updated Yak-7 was manufactured serially, but this is very probably.

Besides combat machines a two-seat training version Yak-7V was manufactured since May 1942 till November 1943. It differed from Yak-7UTI first of all with fixed undercarriage. Some of these machines (87 pieces) were received by remanufacturing Yak-7B, others initially were under construction as trainers.