Yak-18PM (oz5974)

About this Plan

Yak-18PM. Scale model for RC. 64in span, 535 sq in wing area, for .61 power and 4-5 channel RC. Model # pl-344. Designed by Colonel HG Bowers. Featured in RCM 4-68.

Quote: "Two years ago the YAK-18 PM made its debut into international acrobatic competition at Toushino Airfield, outside Moscow, where it captured top honors for the Soviet Union. Competing against the Iron Curtain countries were such noted competitors as Hillard, Krier, Herendeen, and Scholl, who made up the US team.

The YAK-18 is a refined development of the well known trainer, and is equipped with a 294 hp engine, as compared to the 160 hp engine used in the latter. The canopy was modified and dihedral reduced to improve maneuverability. To reduce weight, non-essential electrical components were removed and fuel capacity reduced. These refinements were no doubt responsible for its superb climbing maneuvers, although the aircraft was reportedly somewhat limited in its roll responsiveness.

An initial glimpse of the YAK does not leave one particularly impressed since there is no outstanding or distinctive feature immediately apparent. However, upon closer examination, one develops an admiration for the clean lines and purity of design. It is a very simple airplane and there is no doubt that this very simplicity is, to a large extent, responsible for its efficiency and superb performance.

From the modeler's point of view, the YAK offers many advantages which can be fully exploited through the use of the new and reliable equipment available to the radio control flyer, such as light weight proportional gear and the remarkable Posi-Tract undercarriage units. The warm glow kindled by photographs of the YAK erupted when I obtained a set of three view draw-ings by Bjorn Karlstrom. It was readily apparent just how similar the proportions and configuration of this airplane are to the high performance, Class III radio control model. Many comments to this effect were passed between members of the Northern Virginia RC Club (the wives insist the RC stands for rooster club), and I began to seriously consider building the model.

I contacted my chief technical advisor, Comrade Ernisky Greenovich, who is commonly known in the environs of Washington as Commander Ernie Green, USN, and after repeated calculations with slide rule and vodka bottle, we determined that the project was feasible and financable. The latter be-ing determined by the fact that Ernie had a new Kraft radio, a set of Posi-Tract gear, and a Merco .61 hidden away in his workshop.

We selected 1-7/8 inch to the foot scale since that size airplane would just fit into my engineering department (my daughter calls it 'the pit'), and too, 64 inches is a good workable wingspan. This size was perfect for Ernie's equipment...."

Update 22/07/2016: article pages, text & pics added, thanks to RFJ.

Supplementary file notes

Article pages, text & pics.

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