But even in its hay days the major problem with YAk was that it uses sepparate lift engines from the drive engines … meaning once it goes in flight the lift enginees become dead weight.
The reason behind succes of harrier is the solution to that problem.
Dead weight? I’m sorry I couldn’t understand you, why the lift engine on Russian VTOL aircraft as Yak-38 or Yak-141 would be dead weight but JSF F-35?
The twin lift engine setup is what killed the yak-38,and 141.
The -38 NEEDED all three jets in order to land (twin lifts plus the main jet)failure of any one of these ment that the aircraft would crash-hence the auto ejection seats designed to fire if the aircraft over pitched whilst in the hover.This is the same problem the French had with their Balzac,which was a mod.mirage with around 3 or 4 lift jets-two prototypes flew and two crashed (both on their maiden flights?).
This is why the Harrier was so successful,with only 1 engine you have less chance of a failure.
Three lift engine IS what killed Yak-38 and Yak-41? So could I understand that as if the lift engine reduce to only one, the Yak-38 or Yak-41 would survive or should be survived?
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