Reading level:

Yak-40

Yakovlev · Regional jet/ VIP transport · Soviet Union · Early Jet (1946–1969)

Open in interactive gallery →See aircraft like this on the live radar →

The Yakovlev Yak-40 (NATO reporting name Codling) was a Soviet three-engine local-service jet — the world's first local-service jet + the most-numerous trijet airliner ever built. Alexander Yakovlev designed the Yak-40 in 1965-1966; first flight 21 October 1966. About 1,011 Yak-40s were built between 1968 and 1981 at Saratov. The aircraft served Aeroflot + ~25 export operators 1968-2015.

The Yak-40 used 3 × Ivchenko AI-25 turbofan engines (3,300 lbf each, 2 in side-fuselage + 1 in tail). Maximum speed 600 km/h, range 1,800 km, service ceiling 8,000 m. Capacity: 27-32 passengers + 2-3 crew. The aircraft was specifically designed for Soviet local Aeroflot domestic legs — replacing piston-engine Lisunov Li-2 + Antonov An-24 turboprops on shorter routes where jet service was previously uneconomic. About 200 Yak-40s remain in in-service service in 2026 across Russian + former-Soviet operators.

Yak-40 service was extensive. Aeroflot operated ~700 Yak-40s on Soviet Aeroflot domestic legs 1968-1990s. Export operators included Italy (Aermacchi imported 4 for VIP-business use), Czechoslovakia, East Germany, Yugoslavia, Cuba, Vietnam, Madagascar, Afghanistan, North Korea, ~16 others. The Yak-40 remains the world's most-produced trijet airliner — Boeing 727 production was higher in absolute terms but Boeing 727s were larger medium-haul aircraft.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The Yakovlev Yak-40 is a small jet airliner from the Soviet Union. It was designed by Alexander Yakovlev in 1965 and 1966. It took its first flight on October 21, 1966. Airlines started using it in 1968.

The Yak-40 was very special. It was the world's first jet plane made just for short local routes. Before it, smaller towns had to use older propeller planes. The Yak-40 brought jet travel to places that had never seen it before.

This plane has three engines. Two engines sit on the sides of the body. One engine sits in the tail. Each engine pushes the plane forward with strong thrust. The Yak-40 can carry up to 32 passengers and a crew of two or three.

The Yak-40 is smaller than a modern city bus, but it could fly up to 600 kilometers per hour. It could travel up to 1,800 kilometers on one trip. It could fly as high as 8,000 meters above the ground.

Over 1,011 of these planes were built between 1968 and 1981. That makes it the most-built trijet airliner ever. It flew for many airlines across about 25 countries. Around 200 are still flying today.

Fun Facts

The Yak-40 was the world's first jet plane designed just for short local routes.
More than 1,011 Yak-40s were built, making it the most-numerous three-engine jet airliner ever.
The plane is smaller than a modern city bus but can zoom along at 600 kilometers per hour.
It has three engines — two on the sides and one hidden inside the tail.
Aeroflot, the Soviet airline, flew about 700 of these jets on its home routes.
The Yak-40 flew for operators in over 25 countries, from Cuba to Vietnam to Italy.
Around 200 Yak-40s are still flying today, more than 55 years after the first flight.
Italy bought four Yak-40s and used them as fancy private jets for business travelers.

Kids’ Questions

Why was the Yak-40 so important?

It was the first jet plane ever built just for short, local routes. Before it, small towns used older propeller planes. The Yak-40 brought fast jet travel to those places for the first time.

How many engines does the Yak-40 have?

The Yak-40 has three engines. Two are on the sides of the plane's body. The third one sits inside the tail. Together they push the plane through the sky at high speed.

How many passengers can fly on a Yak-40?

The Yak-40 can carry between 27 and 32 passengers. It also carries a crew of two or three people to fly and look after the plane.

Are any Yak-40s still flying today?

Yes! Around 200 Yak-40s are still in use today. Most of them fly in Russia and nearby countries. That is amazing for a plane designed back in the 1960s.

Variants

Yak-40 (basic): Standard 27-32 passenger production. ~1,000 built.

Notable Operators

Aeroflot (1968-1990s): Lead operator. ~700 in Soviet short-haul service.
25+ export operators: Worldwide. ~200 active 2026 across former-Soviet states.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was the Yak-40 the first feeder jet?

Yes. The Yak-40 (1968 service entry) was the first jet airliner specifically designed for Aeroflot domestic legs — earlier Soviet + Western jets (Tu-104, Comet, 707) were medium-haul or long-haul aircraft. Subsequent feeder jets (Fokker F.28 Fellowship 1969, Boeing 737 1968, Embraer 145 1996) followed the Yak-40 conceptually. Its trijet layout was unusual for the civil aviation niche + has not been duplicated.

Sources

Wikipedia — Yakovlev Yak-40