The design won an award and secured him a position as a worker at the Zhukovsky Air Force Military Engineering Academy.

The Yakovlev Design Bureau developed many fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Air Force during World War II.

In the post-war period, Yakovlev was best known for the civilian airliner, the Yak-42, a three-engine medium-range aircraft, and numerous aerobatic models.

Before the start of World War II, he made a number of trips abroad, including Italy, England and Germany, to study aircraft development in those countries.

After the start of the war, he helped supervise the evacuation of aircraft factories to the east, and the production organisation, while continuing as head designer of his Bureau.