Yakovlev-9

The Yakovlev-9 is a further development of the test plane Yak-7DI. Major changes from the basic prototype included the use of the duralumin instead of timber spars in the wing construction. This reduced the weight and allowed more space available for extra fuel tanks.

There were several modifications of the basic Yak-9, which were built in large-scale quantities and operated in military actions .

Yak-9D was a long-range escort fighter equipped with extra fuel tanks. Fuel tanks capacity increased to 650 l in comparison with 480 l on the basic airplane. Range increased to 1400 km.

Yak-9DD had a capacity of fuel tanks of 850 l, which increased its range to 2300 km. An air division of Yak-9DD was based in Italy and operated as an escort for US bombers on their shattle raids to bomb Romanian oil fields with landing in Ukraine.

Yak-9M (introduced in 1944) was a further modification of Yak-9D. Major changes included the cockpit shifted 400 mm to the rear and emergency ejection of the canopy.

Yak-9K was a 45 mm cannon armed modification of Yak-9T.

Yak-9B (introduced in 1944) was a bomber-fighter modification carrying 4x100 kg bombs in an internal bay behind the cockpit or 128 anti-tank cassete bombs.

Beginning from the year 1944, many Yak-9 airpalnes were equipped with more powerful VK-105PF2 engine (1240 hp).