AMO 72195 Yak-18 with ski gear

In 1946 the all-metal aircraft which received the name Vak-18 was developed by the Yakovtev design bureau. It was the UT-2 /ГЧ. ал,] piston fjghter hybrid. The Yak-18 was powered by a 150 hp M-11FR engine with aerodynamic variable pitch propeller. The fuselage structure is the same as on fighters of war period - truss structure with steel tubes. The fuselage tail section was covered by a cloth, while the nose section was closed by covers of large servicing hatches.

The Yak-18 prototype was built just few months and at the beginning of the May 1946, it made its maiden flight Then it successfully passed factory and state official tests and was put into the Soviet Air Forces service, replacing the UT-2 and PO-2, in comparison with which it had considerably better performance. From 1947 till 1953 a large number of Yak-18 was built due to its simple and technological effective structure, made from available and cheap materials. Some modifications were developed.

Till beginning of the 60ties the Yak-18 remained the primary machine in the DOSAAF aero clubs. The Yak-18 was successfully operated in a series of foreign countries. The Yak-18 design and scheme turned out to be expedient and rational that made it possible to keep it at up-to-date requirements, introducing in it only slight modifications.