Yak-52

The Yakovlev model 52 trainer was designed by the A.S. Yakovlev Bureau as the successor to their model 18 trainer. The aircraft provides excellent handling from basic training through to advanced aerobatic training with "g" limits of +7 -5g with 2 crew. The sturdy and reliable Vendeneyev M-14P/360 HP is the world's last in production radial engine. The aircraft can be operated from hard runways, unimproved surfaces or even snow when fitted with skis. Maintenance is relatively easy and can be performed in the "field". The Yak-52 offers performance and ease of operation, second-to-none.

The Soviet/Russian system was/is different from that in the West. Since before the Great Patriotic War, aspiring pilots had the option of begining their training in an organization called DOSAAF (now called ROSTO), a paramilitary organization run and organized by the military. Here pilots would be trained in the Yak-52 and upon completion, transfer to a specific HMPS (Higher Military Pilot School) to continue transition into the L-29 Delfin or L-39 Albatros. An argument has developed that since this group is not technically "the military", the Yak-52 is not a military trainer, but this is a word play at best.

The Yak-52 was intended as a military and training aircraft run by State flying schools. As such the Yak-52 was typically based at one airfield for its entire life, where it did virtually nothing apart from hard aerobatics. The Yak-52 however is an extremely tough and robust aircraft, and designed for such treatment. Nevertheless it is important to recognise the ‘military’ environment in which the aircraft was operated. In addition the Soviet Union was then keeping 280 million people employed, and a combination of these factors was to have very conservative ‘lifetimes’ for all aircraft and aircraft components.

Yak-52M aircraft is intended for professional selection and primary training of future pilots as well as for aerobatic training of sportsmen. Yak-52M is a two-seater, single engine monoplane of classical configuration with low wing, retractable tricycle landing gear with nose wheel and the M-14X engine. Good shock-absorbing properties of the landing gear with low pressure tires, short takeoff and landing run make it possible to operate the aircraft on small unprepared airfields.

High reliability, simple structure, access to the system units and pipelines ensure easy maintenance with minimum costs for flight preparation with minimum available ground servicing equipment. The wing aerodynamic configuration, wing planform and airfoil have been selected to provide the aircraft functions of primary training and aerobatics. It is planned to use the Yak-52M aircraft in aero clubs and flying schools that makes it possible to train skilled pilots and sports aircraft pilots in a short period of time at minimum costs.

All Yak-52’s--more than 2000--have been built by Aerostar of Bacau, Romania. In the old Communist system, aircraft were designed by “design bureaus,” like Yakovlev, Sukhoi and MiG, but were built elsewhere. Aerostar is the only factory to ever produce Yak-52. After the manufacturing of more than 1,900 YAK-52 light aircraft developed in three versions: YIAK-52, YAK-52W and YAK-52TW, the production is conducted now by batch orders.

Modernization:

The aircraft presents Yak-52 modification and differs from the original by the following:

• 50% of airborne equipment is renewed that provides for flights in adverse weather conditions at night;
• the new canopy is installed to ensure safe bailout with the help of escape system;
• the SKS-94MIA escape system is installed to enhance crew safety;
• the integral tanks are embodied in wing structure that increase range of flight up to 900 km;
• the rudder area is increased ;
• the blind flying cap is installed;
• three-blade MTV-9 propeller is installed;
• the wing aerodynamics is changed for stall performance improvement.