What Happened to the Soviet Supersonic Jump Jets?

brilliant.org/CuriousDroid
Back on the 70's and 80's the Soviet Union developed a series of VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) aircraft that culminated in the supersonic Yak-141, something that the west wouldn't achieve until the arrival of the F-35B in 2010 some 20 years later. This is the story of the Soviet supersonic jets.
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Written, Researched and Presented by Paul Shillito
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[@CuriousDroid]

A couple extra points that have been brought up in the comments are the YAK-41/F-35B connection and that the harrier has nothing to do with the F-35B design. The first one is that Lockheed bought the tech from YAK. Well, the rotating nozzle (three-bearing swivel duct or 3BSD) was designed in the US in the 1960s by Pratt & Whitney for the Convair Model 200 but the project was not continued. The Soviet version appears to be a very similar setup and they were the first to fly this type of rotating nozzle but Lockhead had resurrected the 1960 US design for the F-35B before the YAK intervention. Lockheed wanted the flight information so see how they worked in an operational aircraft and Yakovlev needed the cash in the newly market driven Russia after the Russian Navy cancelled the contract. As for the Harrier, this is my take on it in that the Harrier proved you could run the whole VTOL setup with a single-engine were as all the other setups had used multiple engines which tended to burn up the runways and landing areas with the hot exhaust. The F-35B uses an engine-driven cold air fan for half of the lift which greatly reduces this effect thought it can still burn the runway at the other end of the plane if it hovers low down for too long.

[@GewelReal]

I like such additional info!

[@lizadonrex]

This is a very important information sad you didn’t put in the video.

[@dan725]

Thank you for clarifying!!

[@ShifuCareaga]

still one of the best channels on KZbin. well done.

[@russellk.bonney8534]

Differences are to be expected. A rose by any other name is just the same. The F35 owes it's existence to the Yak. Tech evolution is just how it goes. There is no need to run from any historical connection. The Yak failed because of the old no cash syndrome and The F35 is too expensive and under performing as well.

[@KesMonkey]

I would imagine an unexpected auto-ejection is quite the experience.

[@valorkaizen]

pulling a couple hundred of gs

[@volo870]

@@valorkaizen Soviet ejector seats are deemed quite gentle and reliable. Would not like to be surprised by one, though.

[@bigblue6917]

@@SaintCergue You only do that once.

[@brentkeller3826]

"Dude, where's my plane?" -pilot hangin from his parachute without warning.

[@Wayoutthere]

Something like a 'significant emotional event'

[@VikingTeddy]

I feel physical pain when I see planes being scrapped:(

[@defencebangladesh4068]

Me too

[@satyris410]

I agree, it was quite sad to watch

[@beepthemeep12]

Same

[@1slandB0y77]

Glad I'm not the only one who winced at seeing that poor aircraft being sacrilegiously torn apart...

[@INWMI]

same! after all the efford on the design... it's just sad

[@flappy7373]

Man, the Soviet union was kind of insane.. the technologies that they created were rough around the edges sometimes, but.. its undeniable, their creative ambition was incredible. The rapid development of ambitious new technology that was considered impossible just a year before it was done.. respect.

[@-_Hatred_-]

@Anguished Jiggle, they could, but why?

[@dkhayitov]

@Anguished Jiggle The so-called "Holodomor" was in 1932-1933. According to your logic, it turns out that the United States will not be able to build a normal economy, tk. there in 1929-1934 was the Great Depression. In general, the famine of 1932-1933 was in the Middle Volga region, Ukraine and Belarus and was associated with an unsuccessful collectivization policy, signed contracts for the supply of wheat to foreign buyers and climatic changes (during these years there was a drought). Also, do not forget that the Civil War ended 10 years earlier (in 1922). By the way, the USA, Great Britain, France, Czechoslovakia, Germany, the Ottoman Empire, etc. during the Civil War attacked the Russian Empire and also influenced the destruction of the country and its agriculture. Since the 1950s, there has been no famine in the USSR. The country was able to recover from the Second World War and was able to restore industry and agriculture despite the loss of 20 million population during the war years. A simple example of the rapid growth of the country's economy is that the first Earth satellite was launched in the USSR in 1957, 12 years after the war. In 1945, the entire western part of the country was destroyed in the USSR, but after 12 years a satellite was launched into space. It is not this that surprises me, but the fact that now in Russia the space industry is practically lost, although 12 years ago there was no world war and 30 years have passed since the collapse of the USSR.

[@tieroneoperator635]

The funny thing about it is that nowadays there's a saying for such causes [in post-soviet countries] that all this is "remnants of ancient, more advanced civilization".

[@theant9821]

@@dkhayitov Britain attempted to support the whites against the reds but couldn't do so without direct intervention which just after ww1 there wasn't support for such a large conflict as another Crimean war scenario. Though provided the USA didn't oppose it, its likely that the British would have won back the country for the royalists or whatever they were called. Napoleon and Hitler fought a United Russia, the British would have been fighting a divided Russia on the side of half the Russians so victory is probable, as Britain was still the leading military power in the world by a considerable margin. Its a shame monty and Patton weren't allowed to continue east into Moscow, as the both wanted to in 45. Never mind.

[@thodkats]

@@dkhayitov Thanks for taking the time to write this. It is about time we move over from cold war bullshit propaganda and see facts for what they are.

[@VideoSage]

An accidental automated eject must have been awful. The idea of your cockpit suddenly being ripped away from you- I can only imagine the danger to hands and legs.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

It has automatic pre-tensionning harnesses to bring your legs/arms back before ejection =)

[@elitewarrior0076]

most of the time, a situation like that results in the pilots/flight officers death

[@ideadlift20kg83]

@@fridaycaliforniaa236 But nothing for the neck.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

@@ideadlift20kg83 I believe you have something to retain your helmet, that is pretty much the same thing, but I couldn't confirm this =/

[@magnetospin]

You are an experienced test pilot flying an experimental aircraft, you should be constantly expecting accidental automated ejection.

[@kujursameer86]

This is what KZbin was made for. Thank you Curious Droid for the content.

[@jbdragon3295]

sameer kujur It’s such a under rated channel. He should have millions of subscribers. It’s always such interesting, well researched info.

[@supremelordoftheuniverse5449]

JB Dragon he’s up there with SciShow, Veritasium or Smarter E D

[@bsadewitz]

He's originated his own genre, hasn't he? "Minimally textured electronic music accompanied by file footage of intriguing technology from another time". And always a snazzy shirt.

[@bsadewitz]

@@supremelordoftheuniverse5449 Up there, certainly--but also in a particular format that is uniquely intriguing and soothing.

[@bsadewitz]

@@jbdragon3295 One of my all-time favorites, full stop. It has such a unique, soothing aesthetic.

[@Thesandchief]

So the Yak and Harrier set their differences aside one cold winter night and made passionate love. Then years later the F-35B was born

[@Rakanarshi2]

This is exactly how it happened. And someplace on the internet, the story is in the form of a romance novel.

[@AaronShenghao]

And the raptor (F22) caught them in the act, so they decided to invite her as well

[@elopeous3285]

I have an erection now. Please kill me

[@larrydeem3071]

Apparently they had solved the premature ejection problem.

[@mystupidfacebook]

@@larrydeem3071 yeah definitely, its always a problem when the little soldiers eject too soon lol

[@ricksanchez9232]

So the Russians help Lockheed develop the F35? Wow, I never knew this, incredible.

[@myusername3689]

The russians should also make a jump jet variant of the SU-57.

[@mondedusilence]

Wait until you find out that they stealth tech for F-117 was made possible by Soviet research :)

[@theant9821]

Not exactly, but they provided vital inspiration to the Americans.

[@KatariaGujjar]

B2 stealth bomber originated from a 1940s German design Ho-229

[@user-os6ch5pt7w]

@@KatariaGujjar No. It originated from the N-1M, YB-35, and YB-49. The B-2 is slightly longer than the YB-49, but kept the same wing length - as the design worked very well. Jack Northrop was working on a flying wing design before the Horten brothers were building the Ho-229. It was a great design, but, no need to spread ignorant information.

[@GhostDrummer]

In Soviet Russia the jets eject you...

[@aevangel1]

Lolz

[@aevangel1]

@Zomatack gamer In America you watch TV. In Soviet Russia, TV watches you.... In America your work determines your marks. In Soviet Russia, Marx determines your work....

[@varunyadav3158]

@@aevangel1 👌👌👌

[@andrewdoesyt7787]

In what country do you inject the jet???

[@shadowedcypher537]

@@andrewdoesyt7787 Post-nuclear war America.

[@timfenton7469]

I had no idea that “ Yak “ and Lockheed Martin had collaborated with each other. Talk about strange bedfellows.

[@PuerRidcully]

It wouldn't happen now. Russia was in quite peculiar situation back then.

[@thefreeman8791]

Well they had but not on projects like this video makes it seem. Yakovlev had a lot of testing data that Lockheed wanted but Lockheed could care less about the projects themselves as they already had their own designs. Pratt & Whitney had already tested that design in 1961 and in 1968 Convair proposed a 3BSD system to the Navy but it was rejected. The reason it was rejected is because Convair said that if the Navy accepted their design then they would have to build metal grates over the water on carriers to let out the hot air of the two front engines. Because descending on a solid deck that would be bouncing the hot air back at the intake of the jet aircraft as it was descending will make it crash. The Navy said that it was too expensive to modify their carriers to accommodate that design and they rejected it. Convair later sold out to Lockheed Martin and so Lockheed ended up with the design but they got around the design flaw of having hot jet engines breathing hot air into the intakes when descending by putting a lift fan in it instead of two hot jet engines. Yakovlev built the first one but Lockheed already knew how to design the platform as they had bought out the company that first proposed it back in 1968. The only similarity that the Yak141 has to the F-35 is that they have a 3BSD engine and that is it. Here is an article with the original charts and proposals of the Convair concept to the Navy from 1968. www.codeonemagazine.com/f35_article.html?item_id=137

[@OvidiuHretcanu]

a similar thing happen to American Atlas V rockets, that was using ... the russian RD-180 and RD-181 rocket engines ;) There are a lot of resources describing this, including wikipedia and documentaries like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/in7FnZKlm6tmd68 This is currently the best rocket engine and, as there are no alternatives, it will still be used by US will 2028 at least. I believe our beloved Lord Varys is mentioning this in one its clips, but I cannot find it right now.

[@LRRPFco52]

@@thefreeman8791 The almost unknown ASTOVL and JAST programs have forgotten more about the challenges of STOVL flight than most aerospace engineers will ever know. That's a great article and reference you linked. Thank you for that.

[@BigSmartArmed]

It wasn't a "collaboration", US came in like colonizers and made demands. Yakovlev is only one from scores of Design Bureau that were ordered to surrender their research to US corporations. Boeing got the entire Soviet hypersonic program. It's what happens when liberals corrupt and usurp power to strip the country to the bone.

[@oceanman3804]

In Soviet Union, *AIRCRAFT EJECT YOU!*

[@abiski8851]

good One

[@oceanman3804]

abisheka gamage thanks

[@Wolf-Spirit_Alpha-Sigma]

Why, of course it does. 😂

[@Outland9000]

What in the Blyat!?! 🤣

[@plxton]

I think that's the only version of that joke I've ever read that made me laugh

[@pathfinder2reality]

Russian out of the box thinking and mindset always amazes me. Beautiful aircraft Yak 141

[@boomznbladez405]

Agreed. The russian mindset is amazingly industrious and intuitive... But thats part of the culture... The Russians have always had to compete with a hand tied behind their back. Due to a combination of european and asian suspision and dislike of Russia, lack of efficient industrial use of their resources, extreme weather, oppresive governments, etc, Russia has never really had a fair chance to compete... Yet theyve managed to keep pace with the west in technology, military, and society, sometimes even surpassing their western counterparts despite not having the same means, despite having their entire government collapse and be recreated time after time... The Russians should be venerated, respected, and feared... Also it should be noted the first parts of the International Space Station are Russian, and they are also the most vital, as they are the life support and power source, which served as primary, but remains as auxiliary... It should not be taken lightly that NASA and the US(as well as the other agencies involved) have entrusted the success and survivability of the ISS to the Russians.

[@jshepard152]

@@boomznbladez405 Yes, if the Russians are to be commended, it should be for doing a lot with a little. But it should also be recognized that the Russian space industry would absolutely have died on a couple occasions if not for being propped up by the west. At the time Russia was brought into the ISS project in the 90s, it was basically make work for them. The goal was simply to keep their rocket people employed, and away from weapons projects in Iran or Pakistan. With SpaceX having taken most of their commercial space market, and the US about to start launching its own astronauts again, the Russian commercial space industry is again at great risk.

[@pathfinder2reality]

@David David Like what? If we look at the times of the Tzars, you will see a backward country of serves, no industry, no roads, no infrastructure. Russians were able to transform them selves from ox powered, wooden plowing peasants to a space fairing nation in mater of decades. That by itself is a monumental achievement.

[@vitalegvitalegov]

Alex Martinovic you underestimate the fact of the huge military bias of Soviet economy. In open an balanced economy people love to work in civil sector, they create great cars, blazingly fast and small computers, good electronics, global businesses, etc, etc. And what was in the USSR? If you were a talented engineer or manager, the only way to implement your passions was in military field because all other sectors were underfunded and crappy.

[@boomznbladez405]

@David David bro what decade are you stuck in?

[@pieroog]

09:25 - my heart stopped.... how dared you?!

[@LawrenceTimme]

The auto eject was actually the first time Ai became self aware and decided the best thing to do was destroy all humans. Thankfully it failed.

[@vitalegvitalegov]

And that was a time the Soviet Internet has been killed 😂

[@Onizukachan915]

And it was called skynet

[@kyle857]

It acted too soon. Should have waited till it had the keys to the nukes.

[@ZaHandle]

@@kyle857 The F-35 was in its plan all along

[@ifell3]

Imagine being accidentally ejected.

[@jaredmartinez1597]

Pilot: *piloting* Yak 36m: YEEET

[@jean-paulvanewijk1810]

That's how some of us came into existence.

[@DanielEinor]

@@jean-paulvanewijk1810 that's how some of us were conceived, too

[@ifell3]

@@jean-paulvanewijk1810 hahahahaha love it!!!!

[@willdau]

Daniel you know what Jean-Paul meant...

[@FlightSimMuseum]

Great info, and the Yak-141/F-35 connection is _very_ interesting!

[@ambientoccluser]

Amazing info. Never heard before that Lockheed actually bought Russian VTOL for their development.

[@tombrunila2695]

The yak-141 was based on the technology of Convair 200. In particular the three part swiveling nozzle.

[@OMundodeGeloeFogo]

I have to admit: Lord Varys is a pretty good online teacher. Three cheers for the Spider

[@OvidiuHretcanu]

is army of little spiders must be huge, as the amount of information we got from his channel is unbelievable!

[@OMundodeGeloeFogo]

His army of little birds (or mice) is indeed impressive

[@Marinealver]

That's not Conlith Hill.

[@Bartonovich52]

No. It’s Lord Varys.

[@OMundodeGeloeFogo]

O RLY?! I had no idea...

[@thlee3]

I cant say enough about this channel. Love the research and technical content

[@LudosErgoSum]

I'm sure that the wifes of the Russian pilots were not particularly impressed with their premature ejection problems.

[@StuSaville]

Or the fact that they had trouble getting it up when things were getting hot...

[@qiyuxuan9437]

Russian ejection seat is pretty safe compare to U.S ejection seat at the time.

[@riot2136]

yuxuan qi did you not get the joke?

[@leeboy26]

'Sorry darling, it's the Vodka'

[@jshepard152]

"I swear this never happens!"

[@sirierieott5882]

Well, well, well... I never knew about the Lockheed purchase of Yak aircraft. Sneaky buggers!

[@thorpyfx2679]

what a fascinating video, really pleased to see where the genesis of the f35 came from.

[@Luke..luke..luke..]

Yay. Another CD video. Always take time out of my day to enjoy them ♥️

[@straight-outta-jutta]

Love how every video of this channel has documentary quality! So nice to watch & very well researched

[@RonaldMcPaul]

Red Alert players remember the Yak plane.

[@jebise1126]

mig was better...

[@MrSomebodyStrange]

It was a WWII-era Yak-3 or Yak-9 though

[@px1_]

Oh god i remember cheesing the entire campaign by spamming migs and yaks

[@brandonbuchholtz1346]

In middle school I was ranked #3 in the world in red alert 2 in solo and #1 in the US. Clan was ranked #1 in the world in 2v2 matches. I haven't come across anyone familiar with red alert 2 in order to brag about my 15 mins of fame. Sorry if no one knows what I'm talking about. If by chances you are familiar with RA2 or command and conquer lmk lol.

[@russfultz3362]

@@brandonbuchholtz1346 Congratulations on your 15 minutes of fame Commander.

[@wahswolf88]

Wow, never knew about the Yak influence on the F-35.

[@baghazukhov152]

The Soviet Union despite it's many flaws and eventual shortcomings, did manage to create an incredible scientific temper and incredible engineering innovations via it's universities and design bureaus. To think that a feudal peasantry society ruled by the Tsars would transform for the better so rapidly, is incredible indeed.

[@jtjones4727]

Thank you for your continued work. I love your videos, probably my favorite channel on YT now. I have been enjoying the aircraft videos especially.

[@nozyspy4967]

I built a VTOL in Kerbal Space Program, i have to say doing it virtually was difficult enough. Real respect to the people who managed to figure out how to do it in real life!

[@ZaHandle]

Takeoff yes Land no

[@nozyspy4967]

@@ZaHandle Oh landing was easy. Landing while not in multiple pieces was not. :D

[@leeboy26]

Russian Engineer: 'Comrade, how many engines for our new VTOL?' Yakovlev: 'Yes'

[@aleksandarilijasevic2457]

Da

[@aleksandarilijasevic2457]

@Олександр Шпітко sorry don't understand, I'm Serbian but don't understand Russian.

[@TarlanT]

Both Harrier and Yak were very unstable at take off and landing. Especially Yak. Because it generated a lot of hot air right under the aircraft that offer got into the air intakes. Dangerously reducing main engine thrust, this often led to catastrophic crashes on a flight deck. F-35 has solved this problem ingeniously. By using lifting fan, F-35 generates cold air, not hot. Which makes plane very stable and safe. It became possible due to incredibly durable main shaft metal alloy, and 2nd to none thrust of engine F-135 (40K pounds)

[@02markcal]

THANK YOU Curious Droid for the hard work you put in making this video!

[@derekk.2263]

He got rid of his hair and eyebrows so that he could decrease the resistance against knowledge getting into his brain. We should all follow his example and be geniuses.

[@tempetenoir1202]

Actually he's an MIB who's mission is to waste our precious time, and scan for comments about aliens/ufo. (JUST KIDDING ) 😊

[@jayjay53313]

Inspiration from tv series alien nation

[@IrishCarney]

Yeah, but then Superman notices your having become an evil genius supervillain and starts interfering with your perfect plans.

[@philbyd]

Derek K. But do the shirts help too??

[@jannadrielcervo7753]

I've already got rid of my hair, I just need a new wardrobe full of wild patterned shirts for attracting more knowledge.

[@lordcumiring]

Now play K-DST when you fly those vertically take off aircrafts.

[@JayHeartwing]

"Young hearts be free tonight Time is on your side Don't let them put you down Don't let 'em push you around Don't let 'em ever change your point of view…" Tenene ten tennn... tenenenene teneneneeennnn.

[@redstar956]

You're listening to... THE DUST

[@hiu203]

This channel deserves much more support and many more subscribers. Love all the facts, stats... and shirts. Cheers Curious Droid

[@rzero21]

This channel is great. I remember looking for pictures of the Yak-141 but even Wikipedia article didn't have too much info in it back then and this channel got plenty of pictures and videos of it!

[@Leo-pv8mn]

Wikipedia and Google are not all there is. If you are looking for something from Russia, then ask Yandex.

[@Chlorate299]

In my time working at Rolls-Royce, I found out that the duct that splits the flow out of the back of the engine into the two swivel nozzles was affectionately known as "the elephant's trousers"

[@gavincraigie7904]

Great video on the subject. Just as a note (and you're probably aware), the Lowestoft Airshow incident was in 2002 and not 2012 as cited. Look forward to more!

[@HesteBremse]

Always great editorials, thanks a lot ;)

[@michelwd7337]

Great quality video, as always. Many thanks 😉👍

[@bigblue6917]

Some years ago a British Royal Navy ship was shadowing a fleet of Soviet ships when a Yak-38 came up behind getting read to land on its carrier. Suddenly a problem developed and the Soviet pilot ejected. But his problems were not over as after he hit the water he became tangled in the cords of his parachute and looked like he would drown. With the Soviet fleet to far away to respond quickly enough the Royal Navy ship sent out a boat and saved the pilot before he drowned and then handed him over back to his own shipmates. Got to be one of the few times the Soviets did not mind being shadowed.

[@MrFlatage]

Go become a sailor then. No sailor is going to leave you at the mercy of the sea. During WWII U-boats did rescue even their enemies. Even at direct orders from Hitler they refused to stop.

[@Palmtop_User]

*plane tips to far* Plane: "YA YEET"

[@MatterBeamTSF]

Brilliant video! You do aerospace topics to well.

[@UtterStupiditty]

I love this channel. Learn something new EVERY SINGLE VIDEO

[@ApoapsisGaming1]

I was on that beach watching as the harrier went quiet and crashed at 5:20.

[@boomschool]

Why didn't you do anything to save that fine machine?

[@mikenunney3361]

So was I! Suddenly went extremely quiet didn’t it?

[@ApoapsisGaming1]

@@mikenunney3361 it was eerily quiet

[@Haunt888]

@@boomschool it dropped off water, it's fine, just fished it out

[@boomschool]

@@Haunt888 Glad to know that! i hope the fine machine works well after drying?

[@TheRibbonRed]

Enjoying the current streak of military technology videos. 😊

[@2degucitas]

Hubby took me to an air show decades ago. The Harrier Jump Jet blew my mind. I've been a fan ever since.

[@charleshetrick3152]

Love the videos’ information and the awesome shirts! Keep up the good work.

[@galier2]

There were at least four VTOL planes in the west that were supersonic. They were not built in series but they were developped. You mentioned Hawker Siddeley P.1154 wihcih could fly at Mach 1.3, but you didn't mention German EWR VJ 101 (Mach 1.04) and VFW VAK 191B (Mach1), and Frances Dassault Mirage IIIV, which could fly easily at Mach 2.

[@perfectevo2392]

They jumped with the Soviet economy

[@BigSmartArmed]

Soviet economy was sabotaged by liberals.

[@jimtaylor294]

Soviet economy was usurped by reality :P .

[@BigSmartArmed]

@@jimtaylor294 I was there to see Soviet economy in action, where were you?

[@Bartonovich52]

All the Soviet economy lacked was the credit the Americans had. The US is still carrying around the millstone of debt from trying to outspend the Russians. Now they have to hitch a ride on a Russian spacecraft to a Russian space station.

[@Raptor747]

@@Bartonovich52 ...that's so far from the truth that I'm not sure where to even start. For one, the Soviet Union's economy was far smaller than the US, but it spent an absolutely huge amount of its budget on its military. Its economic style was also horribly inefficient, particularly because its central government just couldn't keep up with the sheer number of decisions such a large planned economy required. Corruption was also massively systemic, which made everything worse. Add in how a lot of the Soviet Union was comprised of conquered territories that did NOT want to be part of the Soviet Union and were only kept in through fear and force, and you get a cascade effect where failure builds on failure until it becomes critical.

[@steveeisenburger6011]

I'm always happy when I learn something. Thanks

[@bdh985]

Excellent video as always! Keep up the good work! Also, does James May know that you're borrowing his shirts?

[@2KOOLURATOOLGaming]

Yes, another one! Makes my day

[@AdurianJ]

The French made a supersonic vertical takeoff Mirage III in the 1960's called the Mirage IIIV

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

And very interesting it was too.

[@unepintade]

Not only supersonic, It was the FASTEST jump jet ever produced

[@adrian_zombturtle148]

Hmm sounds a bit dangerous

[@sheevpalpatine80]

@@unepintade I believe the Germans also made a Mach 2 VTOL. This one was a tiltjet with engines tilting at the tip of the wing like a V-22.

[@anthonyxuereb792]

It was the French who came up with the idea of thrust vectoring which made the Harrier a success.

[@charlesseymour1482]

Very good quality video. High resolution and soft non-iritating music. Well done vertical flight jet history.

[@messaoudkrioua5002]

As always, great video...thank you.

[@cheaterman49]

6:50 pretty ironic that they dropped the second engine because the plane was overpowered, only to find out its performance was too low in high temperatures...

[@motmontheinternet]

It wouldn't have been ideal to operate with two engines in high temperatures, though, because you'd still be spending inordinate amounts of fuel for just regular performance.

[@cheaterman49]

@@motmontheinternet Oh I agree - I mean the reason they removed the second engine in the first place is for fuel economy. I think we can both agree they should have designed a new and better engine to replace the twin engines setup, instead of just cutting the power in half. (realistically, they probably already overhauled and redesigned the engine, but you get my point, it was apparently insufficient)

[@BrySkye]

It wasn't really just because it would be "overpowered". Two engines is a technical nightmare for VTOL. It's why some doubt the P.1154 could even have been made to work at all if it hadn't been cancelled. The thrust between the left and right engines has to be *perfectly* balanced in order to keep the wings level, and we're talking about 60's and 70's technology here. One engine is just simpler. In the case of VTOL, whilst a single engine does mean the loss of an aircraft if that single engine fails, the mantra was that it also meant there is only half as much to go wrong in the first place. Even the Yak-141 and F-35B still use a single thrust vectoring engine, with either additional lift engines, or the lift fan, to balance the front of the aircraft.

[@MrJetFormation]

Pilot: *looses an engine* Yak 38: Imma bout to end this mans whole career.

[@bluecaptainIT]

Maybe you mean: Yak 38: *Looses engine* Yak 38: I'm about to save this pilot's whole career. *YEET!* Live to fly another day. So long, Cyka! Pilot: 38, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BLYAAAAAAAAT!!!

[@David-eh9le]

@@bluecaptainIT Well unless the yak flips first and yeets the pilot into russia

[@bluecaptainIT]

@@David-eh9le Improbable, but still, it's Soviet Russia we are talking about

[@LeoH3L1]

Your career doesn't end because you eject from a plane that's malfunctioning to such an extent, what kind of an idiot do you have to be to even think such a thing?

[@David-eh9le]

@@LeoH3L1 its a joke thats already a year old. Have u been living under a rock?

[@Michael-xo8lw]

Fascinating! Excellent footage as well!

[@kiloalphahotel5354]

Thanks for the vid. Always great.

[@adrian_zombturtle148]

When I was younger andni played GTA 4 for the first time I was like wow that sure is some futuristic jet that can hover it's almost like alien technology I bet that will be in the future

[@Shreddah]

There was no jets in GTA IV. GTA San Andreas was the first GTA with a jump jet.

[@adrian_zombturtle148]

@@Shreddah oh yeah that's probably what I remembered and my friend would do the cheat code to spawn it

[@Biggee-nq5jf]

the harrier predates GTA lol

[@nickpierpoint4116]

@@Biggee-nq5jf hes not saying it doesnt, hes saying that's where his first encounter with the idea of Vtol came from... L O L

[@Biggee-nq5jf]

Nick Pierpoint lol

[@m.streicher8286]

VTOL is very scary without fly-by-wire systems.

[@satyris410]

Haha, watching the YAK on board the carrier pitching and rolling hither and thither clearly under the control of the pilot was pretty terrifying. The guy must have balls of solid Russian steel to attempt that. respect

[@ArcoZakus]

M.Streicher, VTOL is very scary WITH fly-by-wire systems. (Any computer program with more than 20 lines of code most likely has at least one bug.)

[@envitech02]

Great research Mr Shilito!!

[@soladsani]

Great Video! 👌 Thank you

[@TheNinjaDC]

What Happened to the Soviet Supersonic Jump Jets? Well, when your entire political system collapses, budgets tend to get cut.

[@kirtil5177]

not political system, its the economic relations between ussr members being absolutely yeeted as ussr falls apart

[@deptusmechanikus7362]

@Anguished Jiggle **our** communism

[@vii1368]

@M C This is a joke, in the advice everything was common, from this branch the interpretation of "our", which is now a meme about soviet

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

I never knew the Russians built VTOL aircraft, learning something new every day, cheers Curious Driod. 👍🏼😊

[@y_corruptor_y]

The build the first, thats really impressive for this old times.

[@ldmcnutt]

Awesome video, as always!

[@Sutterjack]

Your content is superb - excellent research and presentation - and your shirt style is, of course, impeccable !

[@oljimeagle6779]

Great.. I'll be up til 4 am making one of these on Kerbal now.

[@enweave]

9:25 that is heartbreaking... чуть слезу не пустил

[@demanischaffer]

Thank you for pointing out the YAK-F35B connection, so many people don't know the full story and just assumed Lockeed-Martin bought the YAK design

[@nicolasseguel3477]

Brilliant video, mate!!

[@chadbailey30]

Boy imagine flying along and then BOOM your outside the plane and watch the plane fly on without you...lol

[@Dragonmastur24]

6:03 I TOTALLY thought you said it INGESTED its pilot... that would have been very gruesome for this channel lol. Keep these wonderful videos coming !^.^!

[@fallingwater]

I totally heard "ingested". As "object ingestion" is a thing in jets I thought the pilot had been ejected by the faulty auto-eject system, ground into red mist by one of the lift engines, and the plane had kept hovering with the main engine and remaining lift engine. I had to read your comment to realise my mistake.

[@iainbradford4254]

Good work Mr Droid :-) Thanks.

[@tabasdezh]

Great video thanks for sharing... I know how much research you have done on this ;)

[@djolley61]

Although not a jet, the V-22 Osprey, at first not wanted by the military, but kept alive by Congress, has found a home as a high speed medical evac transport. It's ability to land vertically to retrieve wounded and it's relatively fast horizontal flight has saved many wounded soldiers because it can get them to aid stations within the critical time to treat traumatic injuries.

[@olliea6052]

There's something about the Short SC-1. It's a fantastic looking plane!

[@MarkMcCluney]

If you'd like to see the remaining SC vtol experimental aircraft, it still exists - It's in the Northern Ireland Transport Museum just outside Belfast, which is a taxi ride away from Belfast's city airport, George Best.

[@olliea6052]

@@MarkMcCluney I didn't know that. Thanks!

[@davidsalcido383]

Frequent Flyer: “Yakaty-Yak, Yakaty-Yak, don’t come back! 😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇😇

[@BRZZ-xw4hd]

great vid Paul thanks ...peace out

[@deniscicic8074]

Excellent video, very informative.

[@nonofyourbusiness7384]

6:00 depressed plane ejects pilot. 18 minutes later commits suicide.

[@alveolate]

mental health jokes are tight

[@shredder_mang3211]

Gregory Samuel Teo grow a fat pair

[@bjmccann1]

@@alveolate Auto-ejection is super easy, barely an inconvenience.

[@alveolate]

@@bjmccann1 wowowowow!

[@ravenblackburn3319]

Nyahahaahahahahahahahhhaha😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😆😅😅😅😅😅

[@anasevi9456]

wow, never thought i would see someone covering the Yak-141. As a project it was pure insanity, but it was just sucked into the soviet collapse memory hole.

[@satyris410]

10:18 The Rolls-Royce Lift System is absolutely beautiful and really helps illustrate how the aircraft is put together. Absolutely incredible footage and a fantastic video; I did think when the YAK 41 was first shown how similar the fan door on the top looked to the F-35B. Who knew there was such... collusion between the two nations!

[@peterson7082]

The _Yak-41_ had a completely different system for vertical lift.

[@satyris410]

@@peterson7082 i meant the fan door reminded me of the 35, of course it is a completely different system!

[@hightiernub1313]

Learning this makes me realize how F-35 is an engineering marvel.

[@marijandesin8226]

Imagine being ejected by the Automatic Ejecting System. Out of nowhere.

[@muhammad_ihsan_adfinda]

Like all of the "what happened to this plane" videos, the conclusion is : 'Budget Cut'

[@yumphallangthaphal1598]

Very thorough and knowledgeable. Thanks.

[@steviedfromtheflyovercount4739]

Very informative. Thanks.

[@9HighFlyer9]

AV-8B Harrier is still in use by Italy, Spain and the USA

[@TheRibbonRed]

US Marines are gradually replacing it with the F-35B though.

[@weasle2904]

The Harriers are rarely used recently by the Marines due to their poor performance. F-35B has already started replacing it for the Marines, it being a vastly superior STOVL/VTOL jet. Italy is also buying F-35s.

[@colderwar]

Bullshit

[@9HighFlyer9]

"now retired Harrier jump jet" it's not retired completely.

[@9HighFlyer9]

@@weasle2904 Harrier is due to be retired by the USA in 2025-2028. They kept it around initially to cover for the legacy hornet fleet.

[@LeWille00]

small mistake at 6:30 "lack of radar". That is not a difference with the harrier at the time. The radar on harriers (and not all of them) was only added after 1993

[@adamrudling1339]

sea harriers had radar from their inception in 1980

[@LeWille00]

@@adamrudling1339 ok forgot about the sea harrier, but that is still 9 years later than the yak

[@ABrit-bt6ce]

@@adamrudling1339 South Atlantic air superiority kinda needed Blue Fox at one point, and some AIM 9L.

[@Dave_Sisson]

There are plenty of instances of Harriers using radar in 1982 during the Falklands War.

[@wanderamoses5256]

Excellent work.

[@rojorampage9994]

Good channel. Glad I discovered this 👍

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

I still think the harrier was one beautiful designed jet...iconic craft

[@ThomasWeissJr]

Harrier suffered 11.44 accidents per 100,000 flight hours, compared to 3 for the F/A-18. 45 Marine pilots were killed in 148 accidents in Harriers. VTOL also limited how much weight the jet could carry so the crew had to cut the fuel back or send it up with a limited weapon loadout. It’s not a very good airplane when you consider everything about it.

[@More-Space-In-Ear]

@@ThomasWeissJr it’s a good job I didn’t say it was brilliant jet, it just was a beautiful "looking" jet…. There’s been many jets/aircraft whose statistics have much to be desired, I could list quite a few but, to me it’s the look of the craft that I like so much (and it’s British) as does the mosquito, spitfire….

[@pitschmit4583]

There was also the French Balzac and Mirage IIIV. The fastest SVTOL jets ever!

[@davca333]

Thank you! Have a good holiday!

[@jamesdunn3864]

Excellent summary! I always wondered what happened to the Russian VTOL aircraft and now I know. Thank you.

[@PyroXVuurwerk]

0:38 it sounded like you cut off the sentence

[@alanwatts8239]

*missile lock alarm* pilot: suka! i have to lower altitude quick! *gets ejected* pilot slowly descending on his parachute: what in the blyat 🗿

[@Makzimiser]

I knew of the Yak-38 from playing Wargame, but I didn't know about the connection to the F-35! Really interesting

[@investorbloke]

Excellent video!