What a Yakovlev YAK-18T costs, how far it flies, and what it costs to keep
PlaneFox tracks 5 Yakovlev YAK-18T aircraft for sale and re-reads every one of them from the broker and dealer sites it watches, so the figures below move when the market moves. Every number on this page is measured from those live listings, not taken from a published price guide.
How far can a Yakovlev YAK-18T fly?
A Yakovlev YAK-18T flies about 400 nm, roughly 741 km, which is about 3 h 42 min in still air at typical cruise.
What does a Yakovlev YAK-18T cost to own?
A Yakovlev YAK-18T costs about EUR 2,844 a month to run, or about EUR 314 for every flight hour when it is flown 150 hours a year.
More questions about the Yakovlev YAK-18T
How much does a Yakovlev YAK-18T cost?
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About the Yakovlev YAK-18T
Aircraft overview
The Yakovlev YAK-18T is a four-seat, single-engine Soviet utility trainer and touring aircraft developed by the Yakovlev design bureau. It first flew in the late 1960s and entered production in the 1970s, primarily for civil aviation training, including Aeroflot flight schools. Unlike the earlier tandem-seat YAK-18 trainers, the YAK-18T has a wider cabin, side-by-side front seats, two rear seats and retractable tricycle landing gear. Its importance comes from its unusual combination of robust training-aircraft construction, radial-engine character and genuine four-seat practicality.
Performance & specifications
Most YAK-18T aircraft are powered by the Vedeneyev M14P, a 360 hp, nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine driving a constant-speed propeller. Typical cruise speed is commonly quoted around 120 to 130 knots, depending on propeller, engine condition, aircraft rigging and operating weight. Practical range is generally in the region of 400 nautical miles, with reserves and power setting making a significant difference. Service ceiling is approximately 13,000 feet. The aircraft’s useful load varies by individual airframe, equipment fit and certification basis, but the type was designed to carry four occupants with training equipment and baggage within a sturdy airframe.
Cabin & avionics
The cabin is one of the YAK-18T’s defining features: two front seats, two rear seats, large doors and a relatively upright seating position compared with many Western light aircraft of similar vintage. Visibility is good for instruction and circuit work, while cabin noise and vibration reflect the radial-engine design. Original aircraft were equipped with Soviet-era flight instruments, radios and engine gauges. Many examples in private ownership have been modernized with Western communications, transponders, intercoms, GPS units, engine monitors and sometimes compact glass displays. Full integrated suites such as Garmin G1000 are not typical for this type.
Buying & value
Used-market YAK-18T aircraft appeal to buyers who want a rugged four-seat trainer with radial-engine operating character rather than a conventional Western piston single. Key inspection areas include airframe corrosion, landing gear condition, pneumatic system health, fuel system integrity, logbook continuity, engine time and the availability of M14P parts and qualified maintenance. Buyers should verify the aircraft’s certification category, import history, noise compliance and any national operating limitations. Common upgrades include Western avionics, improved radios, modern transponders, propeller changes, cabin refurbishment and engine monitoring. Market positioning is usually below many newer certified four-seat aircraft, but ownership costs depend heavily on maintenance access, parts supply and the condition of the specific airframe.