The Yakovlev Yak-23 (Russian: Яковлев Як-23, NATO codename: "Flora") was a Soviet fighter aircraft made by Yakovlev. It appeared at the same time the MiG-15 did, but however the MiG-15 was built in much larger numbers.
History[]
The Yak-23 was the successor to the Yak-19. The Yak-23 was powered by a RD-500 jet engine, which was much larger and more powerful than the RD-10F of the Yak-19. It was based on the Yak-15 and the Yak-17.
Flight testing was made from June to September 1947 by M.I. Ivanov. Production started in March 1948 and ended in 1950, after 310 aircraft were built. The trainer variant was called Yak-23UTI and was unveiled in 1949, it had a tandem cockpit, a longer fuselage and lighter armament, only three were built.
The Yak-23 was mainly used by the Soviet Air Force, but was also exported to many countries, such as Poland, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania.
In Poland the Yak-23 was the replacement for the Yak-9P; the Yak-23 was the first jet aircraft used in Poland. It was operational till 1956, after that it was used as a trainer. In 1957 a Polish Yak-23 achieved a world record, as it climbed in 3 minutes and 17 seconds 6000 m.
Under the specification S-101 (Stehaci letadla=Fighter aircraft) 12 aircraft were flown in Czechoslovakia. However the Yak-23 wasn´t license built by any country, because of the MiG-15.
The Romanian Air Force operated Yak-23 as well and developed its own double seat trainer variant called Yak-23D.C. (Doubla Comanda=Dual control).
The following aircraft Yak-25, Yak-30 and Yak-50 never entered operational status and remained test aircraft.