The Yakovlev Yak-52 is a two-seater tandem low wing civil and military aerobatic trainer aircraft with
semi-retractable tricycled landinggear. Development of the Yakovlev Yak-52, originally known Yak-50U, started
in 1973 as a successor of the Yakovlev Yak-18 training aircraft. The Yakovlev 52 was designed by the Yakovlev
Design Bureau as a trainer version of the single-seat Yak-50. The prototype was flown first in 1974. Production
was initiated in 1976 at the Intreprinderea de Avioane Bacau factory in Bacau, Romania and production of the
Yak-52 started in 1977. The Romanian prototype Yak-52 was flown first in May 1978 and deliveries started the same
year. The IAK-52 airplane is equipped with a 360 hp Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14P nine cylinder, air-cooled radial
piston engine. The 400 hp M14PF can also be fitted. The Yak-52 was used in the Soviet Union as a basic military
trainer as well as primary and advanced aerobatic trainer. A vast majority is in use with the Russian DOSAAF
Clubs. The I.Av. Bacau was renamed Aerostar S.A. in 1991. Over 1800 have been produced to date starting with
series-production in 1979. At the peak of production 150 aircraft were manufactured per year. Aerostar in Bacau,
Romania is still producing the Yak-52 in limited numbers on request. The present Models are the Yak-52W, an
upgraded derivative with Western instruments, radio, electrical etc. and the tail wheel version Yak-52TW. After
the introduction of the Yak-52TW in the USA it was shown there was great demand for a cheaper version of
the Yak-52 tail dragger type of aircraft. Termikas, Lithuania, have undertaken a design study to convert
during overhaul or to supply as a "kit" the necessary parts for conversion of the standard YAK 52 to Tail
Dragger configuration: the Yak-52TD.
Yakovlev Yak-52 TD s/n 9010306 'Red Lady Russia' was built in 1990 and put into
operation in the Russian DOSAAF as 'yellow/03' early 1991. After having served only one
and a half years in DOSAAF services, the aircraft was decommissioned
with 173 flying hours in June 1992. In 2002, the YAK 52 was taken over
by Termikas, refurbished and sold to Germany in 2005. In 2008, the Yakovlev
Yak-52 was converted to a tail dragger at UAB "Termikas", Preinai,
Republic of Lithunia. With the more powerful 400 HP Vedeneyev M-14P engine and the optimized 3-bladed
propeller from Mühlbauer and the fully inward retractable under carriage the
YAK-52 TD has remarkable a performance. In 2010, the aircraft was bought
by the Red Yak Flyers. When seen during the International fly-in /
Flugplatzfest at Bielefeld-Windelsbleiche airfield, the nose-art 'Red
Lady Russia' pin-up was painted on the left bonnet of the Yakovlev Yak-52TD RA-3439K.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
