Yak-52
Aerostar (Yakovlev) · Soviet Union · first flew 1976 · light aircraft
The Yak-52 is a rugged tandem two-seat primary and aerobatic trainer, mass-produced in Romania under licence from the Yakovlev design bureau.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Radial nose with big spinner
- Tandem two-seat aerobatic trainer
- Stubby low tapered wing
Look for a blunt radial-engined nose with a large spinner, a low set of tapered wings, a raised tandem canopy and the semi-exposed mainwheels that never fully retract.
Specifications
- The Yak-52 has a length of 7.75 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.3 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 360 km/h (224 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Yakovlev developed the type from its Yak-50 aerobatic single-seater, and the first example flew in 1976. Almost all series aircraft were built by Aerostar at Bacau in Romania, which delivered the machine in large numbers to the Soviet DOSAAF paramilitary training organisation.
Variants
The baseline Yak-52 uses a nine-cylinder Vedeneyev M-14P radial and a pneumatically retracting undercarriage. Aerostar later offered the modernised Yak-52W with wet wings and a Western instrument fit, and the tricycle-geared Yak-52TW.
Where you'll see it
The Yak-52 never served in UK military colours but is a familiar sight on the British civil register, where warbird and aerobatic pilots prize its docile handling and low running costs. Hundreds passed to the West after the Cold War.
Related aircraft
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