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The Yak-3 entered service in 1944; it was developed alongside the Yak-9 as an improvement of Yak-1M and, although having a lower designation number, entered service after its sister plane. It was a bit lighter and slimmer than the Yak-9 and was a very agile dogfighter at low heights; however, as with many Russian fighter aircraft, its performance declined tremendously above about 4,000 m (13,000 ft).
The Yak-3 was powered by a 970 kW (1,300 hp) Klimov V12 inline engine which gave it a top speed of 407 mph. It was armed with a single engine-mounted 20 mm ShVAK cannon and two 12.7 mm UBS machine guns.
In total, 4,848 aircraft were produced; at least five of them remain in airworthy condition.
The designation Yak-3 was also used for two prototype planes that were built in 1941 as a modification of the Yak-1 . These planes are also known under the alternative designation I-30 ("I" for Istriebitiel - fighter). They were partly constructed from aluminium and were more heavily armed than the Yak-1:
Both prototypes were powered by a Klimov M-105 P engine (809.6 kW). Due to a lack of aluminium, the machnines did not enter production.
Since 1991, a number of Yak-3s have been newly manufactured by Yakovlev for the warbird market, using the original plans and dies. These are powered by Allison V-1710 engines and have the designation Yak-3UA.
Related development:
Yak-1 - Yak-7 - Yak-9 - Yak-11Comparable aircraft:
Designation sequence:
Yak-1 - Yak-2 -Yak-3 -
Yak-4 - Yak-5 - Yak-6| List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation |