In September 1951, following a meeting of Joseph Stalin with senior aircraft designers the Soviet Union issued two design specifications for helicopters, with the intent of rapidly accelerating Soviet helicopter development. The requirement for a medium-sized helicopter which could transport 12 people was issued to the Mil Design Bureau, which would result in the Mil Mi-4, while the requirement for a larger helicopter capable of transporting 24 people was given to the Yakovlev Design Bureau under Alexander Yakovlev. Prototypes of both types had to be flying within a year – 'unlimited support' was to be provided for these two programmes by the national research institutes.[1][2][3] Yakovlev made two prototypes for flight testing, and one more for static and dynamic ground tests.[4] The first prototype was flown on 3 July 1952. It was powered with two 1,268kW (1,700hp) Shvetsov ASh-82V radial engines and was built in a tandem rotor layout, which was not typical for Soviet helicopters, which soon brought it the nickname Letayushchiy Vagon (Russian: Летающий вагон) – 'the Flying Railroad Car'. The engines and transmission system were identical to the already-proven single-engine Mil Mi-4, but the Yak-24 proved to be less successful. Its engines were linked together so each could drive one or both rotors, but such an arrangement caused strong vibrations in the airframe. After the problems were partially solved, the new helicopter was ordered for production by the Soviet Air Force, which began in 1955 at Factory No. 272 in Leningrad.
In July 1955, the Yak-24 was first presented to the public in Tushino, and on 17 December 1955 it set two new world payload records, lifting a 2,000kg (4,409lb) load to 5,082m (16,673ft) and 4,000kg (8,818lb) to 2,902m (9,521ft).[5]
The only produced variant was the Yak-24 – Army transport helicopter, that could carry up to 19 airborne troops, 12 stretchers or 2,000kg (4,409lb) of cargo, including field guns or GAZ-69 army car.[6] In the nose was a 12.7mm A-12,7 machine gun mounting, manned by radio operator.[4] Yak-24 was also used as a flying crane, lifting an external load of 4,000kg (8,818lb).[7] In 1957, the improved model Yak-24U was developed, rebuilt from serial helicopter, with all-metal rotors of larger diameter (21m/69ft) and an all-metal wider fuselage.[8] It could carry 40 soldiers or 3,500kg (7,716lb) of cargo, including ASU-57 tank destroyer. It completed test program in 1958, but did not enter production.[8] A civilian variant for Aeroflot for 30 passengers was the Yak-24A of 1960, but it was not produced either.[9] There were two proposed models: the Yak-24K nine-seat VIP salon with a shorter fuselage and the civilian Yak-24P for 39 passengers with more powerful 2,013kW (2,700hp) turboshaft engines, but neither reached production. The helicopter was little known, so specifications and technical details varied among different sources, and also older publications claimed, that Yak-24U and passenger Yak-24A were produced.
Data on the Yak-24 is inconsistent and sometimes contradictory, the exact number of helicopters produced is unknown, with estimates ranging from 40 to 100 units depending on the source of the data. According to newer Russian sources, only 35 series helicopters were built in 1956–1958 in Leningrad, in addition to two prototypes and three pre-series helicopters (1953-1958).[10] All sources agree that production of the Yak-24 was curtailed due to technical problems, and the need for a heavy transport helicopter was fulfilled by the successful Mil Mi-6. According to some sources, the passenger Yak-24A for Aeroflot was not actually produced. The exact date of the Yak-24's decommissioning from the Soviet Air Force, and possibly Aeroflot, is unknown. A surviving Yak-24 is preserved at the Central Air Force Museum in Monino, Russia.
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Gordon, Yefim; Komissarov, Dmitry; Komissarov, Sergey (2005). OKB Yakovlev: A History of the Design Bureau and its Aircraft. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN1-85780-203-9.
1 Listed in contemporary sources •2 Bergander list (details) •3 Unknown/no details •4 Possible error •5 Unconfirmed
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