Yak-52, A.S.Yakovlev

(28k) from Brian Lockett and (24k) Yak-52 belonging to David Sutton;

D
esigned as an primary military trainer, Yak-52 also used as primary aerobatic trainer. It is a 2-seat development of the Yak-50 championship aerobatic aircraft. Utilizing a tricycle undercarriage rather than a tailwheel arrangement, the aircraft looks similar to the earlier Yak-18, but is an all-metal product of the 1970's. The aircraft is quite light with an empty weight of only 1000kg.
The services (retractable undercarriage, flaps and brakes) are provided by pneumatic pressure, for reliability and light weight. Even the engine starts by shooting a blast of air into the cylinders to get it turning over. Each cylinder has an air line which makes the engine look like it is fuel injected even though it is not.
It is mostly used for initial training such as basics of flight and introduction into complex maneuvers. The instructor's position provides simulated instrumentation failure to the front cockpit for trainee purposes. The Yak is fully aerobatic, with an inverted fuel system allowing one to fly inverted for two minutes before running out of gas. Fuel is supplied from a small 5l reserve tank in the fuselage. The roll rate is fast and quite impressive if the stick is moved quickly to either side. Rolls to the right are even faster since the propeller rotates counter clockwise.
Nosewheel is not steerable, and it is necessary to use differential braking for steering. The aircraft can be operated from hard runways or unimproved grass surfaces. Maintenance is easy and can be performed in the "field".
The aircraft are manufactured in Romania (Aerostar at Bacau) since 1979. Over 1700 have been produced to date, 150 were rolling out every year at production peak.
The Yak-52 offers performance and ease of operation, second-to-none.
PredecessorsModifications

Yak-18

Yak-50
Yak-54
ReferencesLinks
  • Yak at UK
  • Yakovlev Yak-52 at Kiwi Aircraft Images by Phillip Treweek
  • Yak-52, Yakovlev
  • Yak-52
  • Aerobatic Images
  • PACIFIC COAST AIR MUSEUM
    		• Technical data
    Type Yak-52
    Function Primary trainer
    Year 1974
    Crew 2
    Engines 1*360hp M-14P
    Length 7.68m
    Wingspan 9.5m
    Wing area 15.0m2
    Empty weight 1015kg
    Loaded weight 1290kg
    Wing load 86kg/m2
    Power load 3.58kg/hp
    Maximum Allowed Speed 420km/h
    Maximum Level Speed 270km/h
    Cruise Speed 220km/h
    Economy Speed 190km/h
    Landing Speed 150km/h
    Stall Speed 100km/h
    Landing Roll ?m
    Takeoff Roll ?m
    G-limits +7-5
    Turn time ?sec
    Range 500km
    Ceiling 4000m
    Climb
    at 0m 15m/sec
    Payload
    Fuel 135l
    Created March 10, 1996
    Modified March 5, 1999
    by Alexandre Savine;    		 Back to
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