A two place aircraft, the Yakovlev Yak-52 first flew in 1976, and is still being produced in Bacau, Romania, by Aerostar. Designed originally as a primary trainer for students who would later transition to Soviet jet aircraft, the aerobatics-capable (+7g / -5 g) Yak-52 is now often seen in the hands of sports flying enthusiasts from the United States to New Zealand.

A descendant of the single-seat champion aerobatic Yak-50, but with a tricycle-geared undercarriage that makes it appear more like the earlier Yak-18, the all-metal aircraft is powered by a 360hp radial engine, the Ivchenko M-14P, with an inverted fuel system that permits inverted flight for as long as two minutes, while drawing fuel from a 5-gallon reserve tank. The engine drives a two-bladed counter-clockwise rotating, variable-pitch, wooden propeller.

Described as an easy airplane to fly, with a fast roll rate, especially to the right, the Yak-52 takes some taxiing adjustment for flyers accustomed to hydraulics, because the plane uses air pressure to operate the brakes (as well as the flaps and landing gear), and also because the non-steerable nosewheel calls for differential braking. Air lines to each cylinder, used for starting the engine, may easily be mistaken for a fuel injection arrangement.

At 2,200 lbs. empty weight, the plane is quite light and agile. While the landing gear is fully retractable, it remains partially-exposed in the retracted position, affording a measure of protection should the plane be forced to land "wheels up." Capable of operating from unimproved grass runways, the aircraft is easily maintained, even "in the field."  [History by Kevin Murphy]

Engine: One 360-hp VMKB (Vedenyev) M-14P radial piston engine

Weight: Empty 2,238 lbs., Max Takeoff 2,877 lbs.

Wing Span: 30ft. 6.25in.

Length: 25ft. 5in.

Height: 8ft. 10.25in.

Performance:

Maximum Speed: 223 mph

Range: 310 miles

Armament: None

Number Built: 1,800

LIMITATIONS
MAXIMUM HEIGHT
As no oxygen system is fitted, the aircraft is limited to a maximum height of 10,000ft.

MAXIMUM SPEED
Vne 420km/h (226kt)

Manoeuvring 360km/h (194kt)
Level flight 300km/h (162kt)
Canopy open 250km/h (135kt)
Landing gear extended 200km/h (108kt)
Flaps extended 170km/h (91kt)

STALLING SPEEDS
Normal 105km/h (57kt)
Inverted 140km/h (76kt)
Flaps extended 100km/h (54kt)

MAXIMUM WEIGHT
Maximum weight for all flight regimes 1315kg (2899 lb)

AEROBATICS
All aerobatic manoeuvres are permitted. Aerobatics are not to be attempted with landing gear or flaps extended. Both canopies must be closed and locked.

LOAD FACTORS
Max positive +7.0g
Max negative -5.0g
INVERTED FLIGHT
2 minutes maximum with 3 minutes erect before next period of inverted flight.

CROSSWIND
Maximum crosswind component 6m/sec (12kt)

ENGINE LIMITATIONS
Take-off power is limited to a maximum of 5 minutes
Maximum RPM is limited to a maximum of 1 minute

OIL TEMPERATURE
Minimum 40ºC
Normal 50-65ºC
Maximum 75ºC max continuous
85ºC full power

OIL PRESSURE
Minimum 1.0kgf/cm_
Normal 4.6kgf/cm_

FUEL PRESSURE
Minimum 0.15kgf/cm_
Normal 0.2-0.5kgf/cm_

CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE
Minimum 120ºC
Normal 140-190ºC
Maximum 240ºC

CARBURETTOR INTAKE TEMPERATURE
Ideal range 10-45ºC

MAXIMUM ENDURANCE
Maximum flight range at a height of 1640ft (500m) and an airspeed of 210-215km/h (113-116kt) at 1315kg AUW (119 litres fuel) with 10% unusable fuel supply in ‘Cruise 2’ engine running condition is 510km (275nm). In this case the flight duration is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes+