On October 21, 1966, the Yak-40 jet passenger plane, known in the Soviet era as the "air taxi," took its first flight.
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That flight was not just a passing technical event, but a milestone in the history of Soviet civil aviation, as it introduced the world’s first jet passenger plane designed primarily to serve local and regional routes, not just long-haul flights.
On its maiden flight, the Yakovlev Yak-40 took off from Zhukovsky Airport near Moscow. The prototype was capable of carrying 24 passengers. The aircraft was piloted by test pilots Arseny Kolosov and Yuri Petrov. Some sources also indicate the participation of chief engineer Yuri Viskovsky. The flight lasted 24 minutes, during which the crew climbed to an altitude of 300 meters, performed two loops over the airport, and then landed safely. Based on the results of this flight, the aircraft was found to be stable and easy to control.
Prior to its maiden flight, the Yak-40 underwent meticulous preparations, including two high-speed ground runs with the front wheel raised, and two short jumps. These tests paved the way for the successful official flight.
The Yak-40 then became the primary air carrier for short-haul flights throughout the Soviet Union. On September 30, 1968, its first scheduled flight departed from Moscow to Kostroma, a city located approximately 350 kilometers northeast of the Russian capital. The aircraft became renowned for its reliability and ability to land on short, unpaved runways, enabling it to connect hundreds of cities and towns for many years.
The Yak-40's design featured three AI-25 turbojet engines, each producing 1,500 kg-pH of thrust. Two engines were mounted on pylons in the rear of the fuselage, while the third was located within the tail section. This configuration enhanced safety, allowing the aircraft to maintain level flight even in the event of an engine failure. Furthermore, the presence of a thrust reverser in the middle engine helped reduce the stopping distance during landing.
The large-diameter landing gear enabled the aircraft to take off and land on unpaved airfields with surface pressures of 5–6 kg/cm². The aircraft's control system operated without booster systems, meaning control commands were transmitted directly to the control surfaces. Furthermore, a foldable ladder integrated into the tail section eliminated the need for mobile runways at airports. The aircraft was equipped with anti-icing, air conditioning, oxygen supply, and fire suppression systems, as well as the most advanced radio and navigation equipment available at the time.
It is worth noting that the specifications of the Yak-40 underwent minor modifications during the testing and serial production phases; the fuel tank capacity was increased, and the passenger capacity was adjusted. Subsequently, factory tests proceeded without significant problems, and on December 28, 1966, the aircraft was delivered to the State Research Institute of Civil Aviation for joint state acceptance tests. In 1967, the Yak-40 entered serial production at the Saratov Aviation Plant, and the first aircraft were delivered to Aeroflot.
The Yak-40 was not the only project the Yakovlev Design Bureau worked on at that time; in 1966, intensive testing was conducted on another aircraft, the Yak-36, described as a remarkable machine, as it was the first Soviet experimental aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) capabilities. On March 24, this aircraft performed a pivotal flight involving VTOL, a date often referred to as the "birthday" of Soviet VTOL aircraft.
The year 1966 was eventful for the Yakovlev Design Bureau. On the one hand, it witnessed the start of flight tests for the domestic jet passenger aircraft, the Yak-40, and on the other hand, it represented an important milestone in the development of Soviet aircraft with the ability to take off and land vertically, which was embodied in the Yak-36.
By combining technological innovation with practical need, the Yak-40 left a clear mark on the history of civil aviation, not only because it flew early, but also because it made jet air transport closer to small towns and remote areas.
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