In 1944, the Yakovlev UT-2 was the standard primary trainer of the Soviet Air Forces, but its simplicity caused problems when pilots moved on to more sophisticated aircraft, so the Yakovlev design bureau designed a more sophisticated derivative, the UT-2L, which featured an enclosed tandem cockpit, the addition of flaps and blind flying instruments.
[1][2] At the same time, Yakovlev designed a single-seat aircraft based on the UT-2L, intended as a fighter-trainer.
It was powered by a Shvetsov M-11D five-cylinder radial producing 115 hp (86 kW), which drove a two-bladed variable-pitch propeller.
[5] The new fighter-trainer's handling proved popular with its test pilots, and the aircraft successfully passed official evaluation.
[4][5] The sole Yak-5 was destroyed when it suffered failure of the wooden wing during a snap roll and crashed.