Photograph:
Yakovlev Yak 42D RA-42443 at Eagle Farm, Brisbane, QLD in March 2005 (David C Eyre)
Country of origin:
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics
Description:
Commercial airliner
Power Plant:
Three 14,330 lb st ZMKB Progress (Lotarev) D-36 turbofans
Specifications:
- Wingspan: 34.88 m (114 ft 5 in)
- Length: 36.38 m (119 ft)
- Height: 9.83 m (32 ft 3 in)
- Wing area: 150.0 m² (1,614.6 sq ft)
- Max cruising speed: 810 km/h (503 mph)
- Economical cruising speed: 750 km/h (466 mph)
- Range with 120 passengers: 2,200 km (1,367 miles)
- Empty weight: 34,500 kg (76,058 lb)
- Loaded weight: 57,500 kg (126,765 lb)
History:
The Yak 42 was a three-engine airliner which was developed to replace the Tupolev Tu 134 and Antonov An 24 in passenger service in the Soviet Union. The first of three prototypes flew on 7 March 1975 and more than 180 examples were built. The Yak 42D was introduced in 1989 and carried 120 passengers 2,200 km (1,185 miles). A variant known as the Yak 42D-100 was shown at the Paris Airshow in France in 1993 with an AlliedSignal EFIS cockpit and other improvements. In 1997 the Yak 42-200 was announced with the fuselage increased in length by 6.03 m (19 ft 10 in), seating 150, and a max take-off weight of 65,000 kg (143,300 lb).
In 2004 Eco Airlines announced it was importing to Australia a Yak 42D for its services, the first aircraft RA-42443 arriving on 27 January that year, the company stating it proposed to import a further three aircraft for the fleet, depending on demand. Services commenced out of Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane, QLD to the Pacific Islands, the routes being Brisbane – Honiara – Majuro – Tarawa – Nadi; and Brisbane – Honiara – Pohnpei – Saipan using the Yakovlev Yak 42D (RA-42443) configured to carry 54 passengers and 8 tonnes of freight. However, the services with this aircraft only lasted a short time, two flights only being made before it was withdrawn and parked at Eagle Farm Airport, Brisbane. No further aircraft were imported. Eventually the aircraft was returned to its owner Karat Airlines in Russia.