Yak-18P by A.S.Yakovlev ('Max')

45k b/w Yak-18P at First World Aerobatic Championship, Bratislava- 1960. Photo by John Blake from "Russian aircraft since 1940", p.451

Single-seater conversion of the Yak-18A trainer was specially designed for competition flights and advanced training. Glass-house canopy of the predecessor was replaced by short 'bubble' with front seat deleted.After few intermediate variants, production aircraft since 1960 were built with front cockpit position, allowing to move center of gravity to 20.7% of the wing chord (instead of 25.7% with rear cockpit).

Fuel system was modified to enable continuous (up to 5 minutes) inverted flights. Forwards-retracting (actually semi-retracting) landing gear of early Yak-18P was finally replaced by inwards-retracting one with cover. About 63kg of the weight were saved, and 40km/h was added to the maximum speed. Its first competition performance took place in 1960 at Bratislava.

8k photo of the Yak-18P from Aerobatic Aircraft History

Yak-18P became a mainstay of the USSR aerobatic team in the early years of World Aerobatic Competition. Large by competition aircraft standards, the Yak-18P none the less was graceful and, thanks to the reduction of weight from the two seat version and additional power, fairly agile. A lack of rudder authority made good slow rolls and rolling turns difficult.

Since 1964 all production aircraft had framed hood and enlarged fin and rudder.

Predecessors	Modifications
Yak-18A	Yak-18PM

References	Links
"Russian aircraft since 1940" by Jean Alexander, p.449...454;	Aerobatic Aircraft History