Type: Fighter
Weight:
Empty: 2,123 kg;
Take-off: 2,692 kg.
Length: 8.50 m
Wingspan: 9.20 m
Wing area: 14.85 Sq. M.
Engine: VK-105PF2.
Power: 1,240 HP
Speed:
Sea level: 567 km/h;
At 4,100 m: 646 km/h.
Turn time at 1,000 m: 17-18 sec.
Climb to 5,000 m: 4.5 min.
Climb in a combat turn: 1,200 m.
Service ceiling: 10,400 m.
Range: 648 km.
Armament:
2x12.7 mm MG (UBS);
1x20 mm cannon (ShVAK).

The Yak-3 was the last and most outstanding representative of the Yak family during the Second World war. Developed with experience of the war years, the fighter represented a new type of aircraft. It incorporated all the best there was on the Yak-1 and Yak-9 planes, and additionally featured a number of innovations that were tested for the first time and later used on all Yak-9 modified versions. The Yak-3 with the VK-105PF2 engine was the lightest and the most maneuverable aircraft not only in the Yak family, but among all planes of the countries at war.
Apart from the Yak-3 serial version equipped with a VK-105PF2 engine (1,240 HP), the production of a Yak-3 with a more powerful VK-107A engine (1,500 HP, speed 611 km/h at sea level and 720 km/h at 5,750m) was launched. The VK-105PF2 Yak-3 was second to the VK-107A Yak-3 by its flight performance, but surpassed the latter in the perfection of its power plant, which made it more battle-worthy and reliable in terms of maintenance. The VK-105PF2 Yak-3 had several armament variants: 1 x 12.7 mm MG (UBS) + 1 x 20 mm cannon (ShVAK); 2 x 12.7 mm MG (UBS) + 1 x 20 mm cannon (ShVAK); 2 x 20 mm cannon (ShVAK).
The Yak-3 had a much better combat performance than the last Bf-109G and FW-190A German piston-engined fighters and those shipped to the USSR under the lend-lease program. The Yak-3's superiority over the Bf-109 and the FW-190 in speed, rate of climb and maneuverability at altitudes up to 5,000m - where air battles usually took place - were so overpowering that the German pilots preferred to avoid taking on the Yak-3.
On the front, the Yak-3 was praised far and wide and was considered the best fighter of its time. French pilots of the Normandy-Nieman regiment chose the Yak-3 out of all available Soviet, English and American fighters offered to them and conducted a number of extremely successful operations with it.
Overall, 4,797 Yak-3 units with the VK-105PF2 engine were produced up until the end of the war.

Advantages: One of the best mass-produced front-line fighters of the end of the Second World war, featuring a high flight performance. Improved aerodynamics. High maneuverability and strong ammo. Absolute superiority in terms of combat features over the latest German, English and American piston-engined planes at altitudes of up to 5,000-6,000m. Higher aircraft durability. Simple and easily teachable controls.

Disadvantages: The first mass-produced aircraft displayed essential factory defects related to losses of upper sheeting from the wing frame when diving at maximum speed. On account of its limited fuel supply, it was impossible to use the aircraft for bomber escort.