RuAviation

On 20th March 1973, a large-scale demonstration tour of the Yak-40 aircraft around Africa came to a close. Over two months, the aircraft visited 17 countries, covering 61,070 kilometres in 149 flying hours. The crew, under the command of pilot Valentin Mukhin, completed 145 take-offs and landings, including operations in challenging conditions of high altitude, heat, and humidity. In 1972, the Yak-40 had toured Latin and North America, and then, in January 1973, embarked on its African tour.

From 1967 to 1976, the Yak-40 undertook demonstration flights in 75 countries, spanning Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Australia. The aircraft participated in 14 international airshows, where its handling characteristics and operational capabilities were assessed by specialists from a wide range of nations. Foreign pilots who flew the Yak-40 dubbed it a “flying go-anywhere,” underscoring its versatility and reliability.

The Soviet media actively covered the Yak-40’s overseas tours, highlighting its successes abroad to the Soviet people. Everywhere the aircraft went, it attracted considerable interest from aviation professionals. This period marked a significant milestone in the history of Soviet aircraft construction, showcasing the capabilities of domestic technology to the world.

Presented below are two articles from the newspapers “Moskovskaya Pravda” and “Komsomolskaya Pravda” about the Yak-40’s promotional tour of the African continent. Information for this material was provided by the Telegram channel “Notes of Aircraft Builders”.

Yak-40: The African Marathon

Yesterday**, at 12:15 Moscow time, the Yak-40 jet, registration number 87597, touched down at Sheremetyevo International Airport. On the ground, the crew were greeted with flowers, as is customary when friends return from long journeys. However, in the hands of the “travellers” descending the steps a few minutes later were already flowers – scarlet carnations. These were presented to the crew as a farewell gift from Africa.

The Yak-40, developed by the A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau, has completed its demonstration flights over the African continent. And the map you see before you shows its precise route.

The most compelling commentary on this would only be the figures: 2 months on tour, 17 countries visited, 149 flying hours, 145 take-offs and landings, 61,070 “air” kilometres. But these impressive figures don’t tell of dust storms or tropical downpours, nor do they tell of the friendly and professional encounters on the African continent. Therefore, right there at the steps, we hurried to take a short interview with the aircraft’s crew.

Flight Manager Yu.L. Chikin already has considerable experience of overseas flights on the Yak-40. Almost a year ago, we greeted his aircraft returning from a six-month promotional trip around Latin America.

We asked him to compare the two flights.

“South America gave us quite a few ‘surprises’ back then. However, we were prepared for the most important thing – flights in the mountains, difficult approaches to airfields, and landings at an altitude of 4,000 metres. In Africa, we weren’t afraid of that at all. But the tropical heat, the air temperature of plus 47 [degrees Celsius], humidity of almost 100 percent – now that was tough. And, finally, the worst thing – dust storms. In Dakar, visibility was less than 500 metres during landing due to this dust storm. But we landed all the same… And our ‘Yashka’ [diminutive for Yak-40] was fine. By the way, in these two months, we didn’t replace a single small screw in the aircraft. And the aircraft is a standard production model.”

“The flight was primarily for promotional purposes, wasn’t it?”

“That’s right. Technical and commercial negotiations were held in each country. In Dakar, for example, representatives from local airlines, as well as specialists from Air France, Lufthansa, Pan Am, and Alitalia, attended the press conference. The whole world is interested in our ‘Yak’.”

“Were there any passengers on board?”

“We even have a list of the most distinguished passengers, if you like. This time, the President of Tanzania, Julius K. Nyerere, the President of Zambia, Kenneth David Kaunda, and many members of the Somali Revolutionary Council expressed a desire to fly on the Yak-40. Well, local pilots couldn’t get enough of it.”

“Were they passengers too?”

“Why would they be? They are all professional pilots…”

“And you trusted them with the controls?” – We asked this question of the aircraft’s Captain, Hero of the Soviet Union V. G. Mukhin.

“What’s more, African pilots participated in almost all our flights. The ‘Yak’ is very easy to handle, and it is not difficult for a specialist to master it. We didn’t even need an interpreter… It all looked something like this: I took off, gained altitude, and then handed over control to the African pilot. We all understood one word from them after landing without translation: ‘Fantastic!'”

…Thousands of kilometres of air routes lie behind them. The African marathon has been successfully completed. Moscow warmly welcomed the participants of the flight. Among those who greeted them were representatives of the A. S. Yakovlev Design Bureau, M. G. Bendersky and other creators of the Yak-40. Now, they all have to summarise the results of this unique flight, which once again proved that the small, light-winged “Yak” is not afraid of the most difficult obstacles either on the ground or in the air.

E. Vladimirov, V. Solovyov, “Komsomolskaya Pravda”, 1973, 23rd March, No. 69

** In the March 23rd issue of Komsomolskaya Pravda, it is mentioned that the aircraft returned to Sheremetyevo “yesterday”, i.e. March 22nd. The authors of the Telegram channel “Notes of Aircraft Builders” clarified to the Aviation of Russia website that the date March 20th is recorded in the Yakovlev archives. Perhaps this was the final destination in Africa, and the aircraft reached Sheremetyevo by March 22nd.

Yak-40: African Première

Sheremetyevo International Airport is a haven for mighty airliners capable of flying non-stop from Moscow to Havana, New York, or Tokyo. However, on 19th January 1973, the attention of those at the airport was focused on the Yak-40 jet, developed at the Special Design Bureau of General Designer A. S. Yakovlev. The aircraft was embarking on an unprecedented journey around African countries. At the helm was aircraft Captain V. G. Mukhin, with Second Officer Yu. V. Petrov and Navigator L. A. Lobanov. The Flight Manager was Yu. P. Chikin.

Two months later, the Yak-40 returned to the same aerodrome, having left over sixty thousand kilometres of travel “in its wake.”

The aircraft’s Captain, Valentin Grigoryevich Mukhin, visited the editorial office. Here’s what he said about the unusual journey:

“We were well aware of the aircraft’s handling capabilities. That is why, when setting off on the foreign tour, we believed that the aircraft would withstand all the tests that awaited it on the way. And so it was.”

The first landing on African soil was in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Residents of the city, members of the government, and representatives of embassies viewed the aircraft with interest. The assembled crowd watched the “Yak” with admiration as the aircraft, with passengers on board, including the grandson of the Emperor of Ethiopia, soared into the sky.

In the Somali capital, Mogadishu, we also made a demonstration flight. The Somalis’ appreciation of our Yak-40 could be judged by the thunderous applause that greeted the landing aircraft.

Kenya is home to one of Africa’s richest national parks – Kilaguni. Here, there is a landing strip where only the smallest piston-engined aircraft can land. We were to land our aircraft here.

On descending, we saw the following scene: two elephants were peacefully grazing at the start of the runway, and a herd of zebras at the end. We decided to land on the transverse runway. But when we got to the centreline, we saw… a herd of wild boars and antelopes. The timid antelopes “gave way” to us, but the boars… Still, we landed.

The Yak-40 also visited Tanzania, Zambia, Burundi, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal, Mauritania, Morocco… And everywhere it was greeted with great interest.

In Tangier, we had an interesting meeting with the crew of the Concorde supersonic passenger aircraft. The French pilots readily accepted our invitation. A lively conversation ensued. Our aircraft made a huge impression on the French. “We would like to see your aircraft at the next Paris Air Show,” the guests said as they said goodbye.

In Algiers, the Yak-40 was made available to workers in the oil fields located in Mesaoud. When we took off with them, they literally bombarded us with questions. They were interested in everything: speed, flight altitude, fuel capacity, ticket price.

…For two long months, the Soviet Yak-40 jet roamed the skies of Africa. Unpretentious about landing sites, capable of flying in all weathers, comfortable, and fast, it won universal recognition.

F. Kondrashov, “Moskovskaya Pravda”, 1973, 1st April, No. 77