What is yak 3?

The Yakovlev Yak-3 was a World War II Soviet fighter aircraft designed and manufactured by the Yakovlev design bureau. It was one of the smallest and lightest combat aircraft of its time and was highly maneuverable and fast.

The Yak-3 first flew in late 1943 and entered service with the Soviet Air Force in 1944. It quickly became one of the best-performing fighters on the Eastern Front, outclassing German aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf Fw 190.

The Yak-3 was powered by a VK-107A V12 liquid-cooled piston engine, which gave it a top speed of over 400 mph and excellent climb and turn performance. It was armed with a 20mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns.

The Yak-3 was used by many Soviet pilots to achieve high kill-to-loss ratios and was highly respected for its agility and firepower. It remained in service with the Soviet Air Force until the end of the war and was also used post-war by several other countries.

Overall, the Yak-3 was a highly successful and effective fighter aircraft that played a significant role in the Soviet Union's victory on the Eastern Front during World War II.