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The UT-1 was designed as a single-seater advanced trainer and aerobatic plane, supplementing the UT-2 two-seater primary and advanced trainer. It was very similar to the UT-2 in construction and appearance, but it was smaller. The new plane, just as the UT-2, was designed by Yakovlev's team. The first prototype, designated the AIR-14, was flown in 1935.
After some changes, the AIR-14 was accepted for a production. Among other improvements, the radial engine Shvetsov M-11 (75 kW, 100 hp) was changed to a stronger M-11G (86 kW, 115 hp). The plane received the designation UT-1, which was an abbreviation of: uchebno-trenirovochnyi (учебно-тренировочный) - "primary/advanced trainer" (despite this designation, it was not suitable for primary training).
The UT-1 was used as a transitional plane between the UT-2 and fighters like I-16. It was an aircraft difficult to fly, unsuitable for beginners, but easier than the I-16. In 1939, the plane was modified by moving the engine 26 cm (10 in) forward, which improved its handling. During production, the M-11E engine (112 kW, 150 hp) was also used. Soviet pilots broke several records on the UT-1 before the war, some on its floatplane variant. In total, 1,241 aircraft were built between December 1936 and 1940.
During World War II, from 1941, the UT-1 was also used for reconnaissance tasks. Some aircraft were used as improvised combat machines, after fitting with underwing machine gunA machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. Overview M2 machine gun surrounded by spent shell casings Unlike semi-automatic firearms, which require one trigger pull per bullet fired, a machine gun wills or even 2 unguided rockets. In February 1942This is a list of aviation-related events from 1942: Events January January 30 Canadian Pacific Air Lines formed by the acquisition and merger of Arrow Airways and Canadian Airways, along with all the various subsidiaries of the latter. April April 18 Col, about 50 UT-1 were coverted in workshops as improvised ground attack planes UT-1B (УТ-1б), fitted with two machineguns and 2-4 rockets. They were next used in the Black Sea Fleet aviation in Sevastopol and Caucasus. The remaining ones were disarmed in December 1942.
Experimental variants:
Mixed construction (metal and woooden) monoplane, conventional in layout, with low-wings, canvas covered. An open pilot cab. 5 cylinder M-11 radial enginebiplane The radial engine is a configuration of internal combustion engine, commonly used in aircraft, in which the cylinders are arranged pointing out from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel. The cylinders are connected to the crankshaft wit, two-blade fixed pitch propeller. Conventional fixed landing gear with massive aerodynamic covers. In winter it could operate on skis.