In these days, you can rarely hear about the flight on the Yak-42. Now they continue to operate mainly low-cost domestic carriers and companies involved in VIP-transportation. And if the layout of the cabin of private companies is customized for the customer (or the owner of the aircraft), then the layout of the cabin of the Yak-42 of the other airlines practically coincides.
The development of the aircraft began in 1972 with the filing of Aeroflot, which was hoping to replace the IL-18 and Tu-134 with this model. However, he did not cope with his task and was gradually withdrawn from the fleet of the national carrier of the Russian Federation.
History of the Yak-42
The three-engine aircraft was based on the Yak-40 models. Two engines on the sides of the rear of the fuselage and one on top, including an air intake in the fork. The main plumage was developed in the form of the letter T, and the tail plumage in the form of an arrow (arrow-shaped). The chassis was designed with twin wheels on all legs. The fuselage of the aircraft is all-metal, and the aircraft itself can be described as a low wing.
The Le Bourget International Aviation Exhibition in 1977 introduced the Yak-42 to all countries. In the same year, mass production began. Aeroflot launched passenger transportation on the Yak-42 only by the end of 1980. However, after two years of operation, there was a disaster that covered the release for the time being. And after the crash of 2011, about fifteen airlines stopped flying on this type of aircraft.
Aircraft Overview
Despite the fact that the Yak-42 did not replace the Tu-134, as expected, some companies still use it in their flight program.
At a cruising altitude of up to 9 thousand meters, the aircraft can reach a maximum speed of 700 kilometers / h. The height of the vessel is small - 9.8 meters, the length of the Yak-42 is only 36 meters. To control the aircraft two pilots are needed, and the cabin is equipped for one flight engineer. The capacity of the passenger cabin starts from 39 people and ends with 120, the same figure is the most common among airlines. A distinctive feature of the passenger compartment is the numbering of seats using the letters of the Cyrillic alphabet.
Which airlines operate this type of aircraft?
For 2017, the Yak-42 is in operation with three Russian airlines. KrasAvia owns a Yak-42 fleet of nine aircraft, Saratov Airlines - of five - and Izhavia use 10 aircraft. The total number of Yak-42 among commercial and passenger traffic is thirty-five aircraft. Gazprom Avia launched its seven units only two years ago.
Abroad, this type of aircraft is operated by the Chinese Air Force, in the amount of two. Yak-42 is leased from Iran and Pakistan, as well as in possession of China - eight pieces and Cuba - four.
The scheme of the cabin Yak-42 in a single-class layout
In all Russian operating companies, this model is in the same lineups. The most interesting and distinctive feature of the aircraft is that passengers need to enter it not from the left side of the fuselage, but from the rear. Under the tail is the main emergency exit, it is also the main service door.
According to the scheme of the cabin of the Yak-42, a total of 20 rows can be counted. The first row begins in the same way as on other types of aircraft in the bow. Here, according to reviews, the best places of the Yak-42, the cabin scheme assumes only a partition in front of the passenger, that is, no one will lower the back of the chair during the flight. There is space for stretching the legs, but not much, because of the wall in front. Although sitting in the front row is much more spacious. The disadvantage of such places is the toilet room, which is located directly behind this wall. Therefore, the extreme places B and D will be very uncomfortable, because it is next to them that the people will crowd in the queue.
The 6th row is completely uncomfortable due to the presence of an emergency exit behind the partition, so the seatbacks here are fixed in a vertical position throughout the flight. In the 7th row according to the scheme of the cabin, the best places are the Yak-42, since they are located directly at the emergency exit. There is a lot of space for stretching the legs, and the back of the chair will not interfere with the front. But the minus will be the ban on the placement of hand luggage on such a large territory, as well as the view from the porthole will be partial.
Behind the 13th row there is also an emergency hatch, so the backs of this row are locked. But the 14th row has a complete advantage for a comfortable flight and the same disadvantages of the ban on the location of hand luggage at the feet. Thus, the 14th row seats have the best seats of the Yak-42 according to the scheme of the cabin. In the 19th row, the extreme places B and D will be uncomfortable, since the toilet room is in close proximity, and all the sounds of flushing, smells, as well as crowded lines create discomfort for relaxation.
The worst option for landing is the 20th row, because immediately behind the wall of the toilet, because of which the back of the chair will not recline. Plus, excessive noise in the tail is created due to the presence of engines.
Yak-42 in a two-class layout
Of course, comfortable business class seats are the best places in the cabin of the Yak-42. The economy class cabin reserves 100 seats, while the business class seats 16 and stretches from first to fourth rows. Two seats on each side of the fuselage. But the numbering of the economy class begins with the number seven and ends with the twentieth row.
In this form, the first row of business with its extreme places B and D will have small disadvantages in the presence of a toilet room behind the partition in front. Noise and excess vanity come from the kitchen counter, as well as a ban on placing hand luggage in the legs. The 7th and 14th rows of the economy class have the same advantages in an extra legroom, being the best seats of the Yak-42 according to the cabin layout .