Yakovlev Yak-52

History of Yakovlev Yak-52

During the late Cold War period (1947-1991), the Soviet Air Force relied on the Yakovlev Yak-52 for the duties of the main trainer. The all-metal aircraft follows conventional wisdom in primary trainer design, with its two crew members side-by-side (under a frame canopy), showcasing straight monoplane wings and powered by propellers on the nose. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, the value of the Yak-52 to the new Russian Air Force declined, and the aircraft inventory was exported to former Soviet allies and private buyers.

About 1,800 were built in the Soviet Union, with some licensed production in Romania (Aerostar). The first flight was recorded in 1976 and it entered service in 1979.

The Yak-52 originated from the Yak-50 product in early 1975. These trainer/stunt planes appear in 314 examples of their own, themselves descendants of the Yak-18 series introduced in 1946. In any case, all three designs share many similarities in form and function - they are easy to fly, and in the long run they are relatively inexpensive to acquire - true Soviet design points. The Yak-52 was designed from the start as a military trainer, which meant tighter tolerances had to be maintained.

The advantage is that, coupled with the lightweight frame, the aircraft also works well as an aerobatics platform and racing car.

Initial productions were given the base brand "Yak-52" and they were powered by a 360 hp Vedeneyev M-14P series 9-cylinder radial-piston radial-piston air-cooled engine driving a two-bladed propeller unit in the nose . Under this framework, the "Yak-52B" ground attack model is formed, which can be equipped with 2 UB-32-57 series rocket pods (32 rockets each) for saturating ground targets. The Yak-52 series was subsequently modernized with the introduction of the "Yak-52M", a form that transformed the family series to use the Vedeneyev M-14Kh radial piston engine, now driving a three-bladed propeller unit.

Additionally, the M model received improved avionics.

Romania produces this product (legally, licensed) under its Aerostar brand label and these aircraft are called "Iak-52". A "westernized" version of the product was created under the name "Condor" and powered by American Lycoming O-540 series engines.

The "Iak-52W" is another western-oriented variant, powered by an M-14P or M-14Kh engine, and its cockpit is equipped with western-style gauges. However, the "Iak-52TW" was subsequently fitted with updated wings and additional internal fuel. It also has a tail wheel instead of a front wheel.

Operators of Yak-52 include Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Georgia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Russia (Soviet Union), Ukraine, Turkmenistan and Vietnam. Some of these powers are still actively using the genre.

The Yak-52 has a length of 25.4 feet, a wingspan of 30.6 feet and a height of 8.10 feet. Curb weight is 2,240 lbs and MTOW is 2,900 lbs. The M-14P engine has a top speed of 177 mph, a cruising speed of 118 mph and a range of up to 340 miles.

The aircraft has a service ceiling of nearly 13,125 feet and a climb rate of 1,380 feet per minute.

Specification

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