No. 6 DONE +++ Yak-138 (NATO code: Flitchbeam) VTOL tactical fighter

[Dizzyfugu]

Ladies and gentlemen, we have lift-off...!


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr



Some background:
The Yakovlev Yak-38 (Russian: Яковлева Як-38; NATO reporting name: "Forger") was the Soviet Naval Aviation's first and only operational VTOL strike fighter aircraft, in addition to being its first operational carrier-based fixed-wing aircraft. It was developed specifically for and served almost exclusively on the Kiev-class aircraft carriers.

Some specimen of the initial variant were tested during the Soviet Union's intervention in Afghanistan. These trials revealed several weaknesses of the construction in the form of unacceptable hot and high capabilities as well as a low payload. A further development for the Soviet Navy was therefore decided in August 1981, the abilities of which were fixed in October 1982. Already in November 1982 the first flight experiments of the prototype, leading to the Yak-38M, took place. In mid-1983 the manufacturing tests were completed and the production release was granted.


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Anyway, the Soviet Air Force also had interest in a VTOL attack aircraft, which could provide CAS duties in immediate front line theatres, complementing the new Suchoj Su-25 Frogfoot and various attack helicopter types - but the Yak-38 was outright rejected. The Frontal Aviation demanded a much better performance, a dedicated avionics suite for ground attack duties and a higher payload of at least 2.500 kg (5.500 lb) in VTOL mode, plus an internal gun, and 3.000 kg (6.600 lb) when operating in C/STOL mode at sea level and from semi-prepared airstrips. For its primary ground attack role, the machine was also to be armored against projectiles of up to 0.5" around the lower hull and against 20mm rounds in the cockpit section. Finally, the machine had to be, compared with the Yak-38, simplified and be more rugged in order to ease frontline service and endure survivability.

OKB Yakovlev accepted the challenge and dusted off studies that had been undertaken during the Yak-38's design stage. One of these was the Yak-38L (for 'lift/cruise'), a design built around a single, modified the AL-21F turbojet with vectoring nozzles and no lift engines, which were just dead weight in normal flight. This route seemed to be the most promising option for the Frontal Aviation's demands, even though it would mean a severe re-construction of the airframe.


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


The new aircraft, internally referred to as 'Izdeliye 138', was based on the Yak-38 airframe, but adapted and literally built around a lift/cruise variant of the large Kuznetsov NK-32 low bypass turbofan engine (originally, with an afterburner, powering the late Tu-144 airliners and the Tu-160 bomber). This engine's initial derivative, NK-32L-1, adapted for operation with four vectoring nozzles, had a dry thrust of roundabout 110 kN (25,000 lbf) – about 10% more than the Yak-38's engine trio all together. And the massive engine bore potential for at least 10% more power for the service aircraft.

The overall layout differed considerably from the long and sleek Yak-38: in order to create enough space for the large turbofan stage and its bigger, fixed-configuration air intakes, the fuselage had to be widened behind the cockpit section and the wings' main spar was moved upwards, so that the wings were now shoulder-mounted. The overall arrangement was reminiscent of the successful Hawker Harrier, but differed in some details like the landing gear, which was a classic tricycle design.
Cold air from the NK-32L's initial turbofan stage was ducted into vectoring nozzles at the forward fuselage flanks, just in front of the aircraft's center of gravity, while the hot exhaust gasses passed through a bifurcated jet pipe through another pair of vectoring nozzles behind the CoG, in an arrangement which was also used in the Yak-38.
Slow speed control was ensured through puffer jet nozzles, fed by bleed air from the engine and placed on both wing tips as well as under the nose and in the aircraft's tail section.


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Teething troubles with the new engine, as well as the new, vectored nozzle arrangement, postponed the Izedeliye 138 prototype's first flight until March 1986. Work was also slowed down because OKB Yakovlev had been working on the supersonic Yak-41 V/STOL fighter for the Soviet Navy, too. The Soviet Air Force's Frontal Aviation kept interested in the project, though, since they wanted a dedicated attack aircraft, and no complex multi-role fighter.

State acceptance trials lasted until mid 1987, and a total of four prototypes were built (including one for static ground tests). The Yak-138 was found to be easier to handle than the Yak-38, and the single engine made operations and also the handling during flight mode transition much easier and safer.
The prototypes were soon followed by a pre-production batch of 21 aircraft for field trials in frontline units. By then, the NK-32L had been much improved and now offered 137 kN (31,000 lbf) of thrust for short periods, which made it possible to meet all the Frontal Aviations requirements (esp. the call for 2.000 kg ordnance in VTOL mode).
Among its test pilots, the Yak-138 was quite popular and called "Balkon" ("Balcony") because of the good frontal view from the armored cockpit (offering a 17° downwards sight angle).

For frontline service, the aircraft was now equipped with sophisticated avionics, including a Sokol-138 navigation suite with a DISS-7 Doppler radar and a digital computer. A comprehensive ECM suite was installed for self-defence, including SPS-141 and SB-1 active jammers, KDS-23 chaff/flare dispensers built into the ventral pylon and an SPO-10 radar himing and warning system.

In accordance with the Yak-138's strike and low-level attack requirements, provisions were made to mount missiles and precision-guided munitions, as well as retaining a nuclear capability in line with other Soviet combat aircraft. An S-17VG-1 optical sight was fitted, as well as a  laser rangefinder and marked-target seeker behind a flat, sloped window in the lower nose section.In the upper nose, between the aircraft's two characterisitic pitot booms, a Delta-2NG beam-riding missile guidance system antenna was placed in a small bullet fairing.


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


By 1989, the initial batch of aircraft had been delivered (receiving the NATO ASCC code 'Flitchbeam') and successfully tested. An order for 42 more aircraft had been placed and a dual training facility with the Soviet Navy at Kaspiysk AB in the Dagestan region (where Soviet Navy Yak-38U trainers were used for transitional training) established , when the disruption of the Soviet Union suddenly stopped the program in 1991 before the Yak-138 could enter production and service on a large scale.

Most of the machines in Frontal Aviation service fell to the Ukraine, where most of the machines had been based. This situation sealed the fate of the promising Yak-138 more or less over night: the now independent Ukraine did not want to keep the exotic type in its arsenal (together with some Yak-38s of the former Soviet Navy, too), and Russia did not want (and could simply not afford) to pay anything for the machines, which had been offered for an unknown sum.

Officially, all Ukrainian Yak-138 were scrapped until 1994, even though rumor has it that one or two airframes had been sold behind the scenes to China. In Russia only five specimen had survived, and since the spares situation was doubtful none could be kept in flying condition. One Yak-138 was eventually handed over to the Ulyanovsk Aircraft Museum, while the rest was either mothballed or scrapped, too. Unfortunately, the sole museum exhibit was lost in 1995 in a fire accident

1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr
.



General characteristics:
    Crew: One
    Length (incl. pitot): 15.84 m (51 ft 10 1/2 in)
    Wingspan: 8,17 m (26 ft 9 in)
    Height: 4.19 m (14 ft 3 in)
    Wing area: 24.18 m² (260.27 ft²)
    Empty weight: 7,385 kg (16,281 lb)
    Max. takeoff weight: 11,300 kg (28,700 lb)

Powerplant:
   1x Kuznetsov NK-32L-2 turbofan engine, rated at 137 kN (31,000 lbf)

Performance:
    Maximum speed: 1,176 km/h (730 mph; 635 knots) at sea level
    Combat radius: 230 mi (200 nmi, 370 km) lo-lo-lo with 4,400 lb (2,000 kg) payload
    Ferry range: 2,129 mi (1,850 nmi, 3,425 km)
    Endurance: 1 hr 30 min (combat air patrol – 115 mi (185 km) from base)
    Service ceiling: 51,200 ft (15,600 m)
    Time to climb to 40,000 ft (12,200 m): 2 min 23 s

Armament:
    1x GSh-23L 23mm machine cannon with 250 RPG under the fuselage
    5 hardpoints with a total external capacity of
    - 3.000 kg (6,600 lb) for C/STOL operations and
    - 2.000 kg (4.400 lb) in VTOL mode
    Provisions to carry combinations of various types of unguided rockets (up to 240 mm), anti-ship
    or air-to-surface Kh-23 (AS-7 Kerry) missiles (together with a Delta N guidance pod), R-60,
    R-60M (AA-8 Aphid) or R-73 (AA-11 Archer) air-to-air missiles; tactical nuclear bombs, general
    purpose bombs of up to 500 kg (1.100 lb) caliber, or incendiary ZB-500 napalm tanks or up to
    three PTB-800 drop tanks under the fuselage and the inner pair of wing pylons




1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


1:72 Yakovlev Yak-138 (NATO ASCC Code 'Flitchbeam'); "17 Red" of the Soviet Air Force Frontal Aviation's 24th Air Army, 138th Fighter Aviation Division; Mirgorod AB (Ukraine), 1989 (Whif/Kitbashing) by dizzyfugu, on Flickr


Messy work, but I am surprised how consistent and normal the resulting aircraft appears? From certain angles, my Yak-138 creation reminds a good deal of the stillborn Hawker P.1154 (no similarity intended, though), the SEPECAT Jaguar or rather exotic Soko J-22 Orao/IAR-93 Vultur fighter bomber. IMHO, there's also some A-4 Skyhawk style to it, esp. in planview? Anyway, there's still some good Yak-38 heritage recognizable, and the tactical Frontal Aviation paint scheme suits the aircraft well - looks like a serious  mud mover. 

[chrisonord]

That is brilliant Dizzy, I am really liking this as it looks pure Russian. 
Chris

[Snowtrooper]

Now that you mention it, I cannot unsee it as the "Soviet Jaguar". Most excellent!

[Gondor]

Very nice indeed. 

I think I might have widened the intakes a little, say 20 though per side, but that would have been it.

Gondor

[zenrat]

Fab.

When you were building it I thought you should have slotted the MiG nose in between the Harrier intakes keeping the round shape.  However, it works very well with the square intakes.
Good job.

[DogfighterZen]

As always, the model is very good, as are the pics, excellent stuff, Dizzy!

[Dizzyfugu]

Thank you very much! 

[NARSES2]

That's really nice 

[PR19_Kit]

 Magic stuff Thomas, one of your very best to my mind. 

And the backstory is brilliant too. I especially like the 'get out' clause right at the end. 

[Old Wombat]

Funky build there, Dizzy! Looks good!

[McColm]

Well done, great build.

[Dizzyfugu]

Again, many thanks everyone, glad you like it! 

[overscan]

Great work

I would suggest that the NK-32 series is rather larger in diameter (1.785m maximum) than the Pegasus however and won't fit even with afterburner removed. A more likely candidate would be a non-afterburning R-79 derivative; the VK-21 non-afterburning proposal for civil use gave 11300kg thrust, and retuned for lower life and higher thrust and with water injection etc it could probably approach NK-32 class thrust. Plus commonality with Yak-141

[su27rules]

Great!!  I love it!!

[JasonW]

Great build, looks very believable. 

I do believe there is more than enough time for you to bang out two more builds. What's next?