Question about ski-equipped Yak-1

[John Howling Mouse]

Did the skis on a Yak-1 actually "retract"?  Even partially?

On the Accurate Miniatures box art for the Yak-1, they show the undercarriage with wheel well doors open, even though the struts culminate in the large skis and not wheels.
In the background is a second, airborne Yak-1 that I *believe* has the same skis but they appear to be retracted up against the wings.  The skis are still visible since they're too big to fit inside the wheel wells but they seem to be right up against the undersides of the wings.

Not sure how this would make sense with the wheel-well doors and such.  Wouldn't those get in the way of the retraction?

[Daryl J.]

I can't answer for the Yak-1 but the Yak-7 was locked down.    Something in the great distant, somewhat forgotten memory ethers seems to say the Yak-1 retracted its gear.



Not that this ^^^ information gives an answer....



Daryl J.

[jcf]

These drawings suggest a ski assembly jointed at the ankle that allowed the ski to rotate flush against the belly.

http://www.wunderwaffe.narod.ru/Magazine/AirWar/32/Draw/17.jpg

http://www.wunderwaffe.narod.ru/Magazine/AirWar/32/Draw/18.jpg

[philp]

Found this on the web:

Landing Gear: wheels were replaced by retractable skis. Despite original fighter design was developed without such a conversion in ming, modification was performed without major airframe changes. Even the leg and retraction system remained unchanged. During retraction, skis were raised tight to the ex-wheels wells, proturbing 600mm in front of the wing leading edge. This part of the ski had special fairing, providing smooth match with the wing surface.

Positive results   
Ski-fitted Yak-1 could operate from snow-covered fields without special cleaning or rolling the landing strip.
Lowered center of gravity (heavy skis!) made landing much easier and safer - Yak-1 trend to noseover was temporary cured.

Negative results
Landing gear weight was increased by 50kg.
Skis themselves as well as the gaps between ski and wing created extra drag, decreasing aircraft speed by 20 to 30km/h.
Large traction increased takeoff run of the aircraft.
During continuous parking, snow sticks to the ski surface.
Ski undersurface lasted only for 70 to 80 takeoff/landing cycles.

[McGreig]

These photos, sourced "Yakovlev OKB", are reproduced in Yefim Gordon's Midland Counties book "OKB Yakovlev". They show a ski equipped Yak-1 and, consistent with the drawings in Joncarrfarrelly's post and the Accurate Miniatures box art, the inner undercarriage door and the lower main gear door have been removed to allow the ski to retract, while the upper main gear door remains in place.

It also says in the text that no other new fighter was used so extensively on a ski undercarriage (I think that the comparison is with the MiG-1/3 and the LaGG-3) and it implies that the skis improved take-off and landing performance, indicating that a strip of only 250m (820ft) was needed for take-off and 275m for landing.

[John Howling Mouse]

Thanks, fellas.  I could not find any definitive info using "Yak skis" as a query.  You are all better zan I am at searching the net.
This will help with my SP-51 Snowstang build in the Let It Snow group build