The Yak-52 aerobatic trainer is a development of the Yak-50 championship aerobatic aircraft. Utilising a tricycle undercarriage rather than a tailwheel arrangement, the aircraft looks similar to the earlier Yak-18, but is a product of the 1970's. The aircraft are manufactured in Romania
New Zealand's first Yak-52, a 1991 model, was purchased by by Sir Kenneth Hayr in 1993, and imported after his retirement from the RAF. Initially operated under its Lithuanian registration LY-ANH (c/n 9111602), after a brief period as ZK-YAQ it is now ZK-ZAY and is based at North shore aerodrome. ZK-YAX was the first on the New Zealand register in April, 1995. The other Yak-52s illustrated below are ZK-LIZ (formerly LY-AIS) -a 1984 model (c/n 844413), now based at Hawera, and ZK- TYS (formerly LY-AFD c/n 822809), based at Thames.
There has been a steady stream of Yak-52's being imported to New Zealand. Other Yak aircraft include the Yak-50, and the Nanchang CJ-6 development of the Yak-18a
Resident Yak-52's are:
Some aircraft have moved on - ZK-LJF (c/n 844409, ex LY-AIU) formerly based at Rangiora was exported to Eaglevale, NSW in Australia in December 1998.
Last Text Update:- 29 July, 2001
Last Picture Update:- 2 December, 2002
There are only a few images - but its a start. I only had a couple of minutes with ZK-LIZ, and an aircraft painted black is not the best subject, so I'm looking for an opportunity to get more (its now been painted blue). The cockpit pictures are from ZK-TYS. The engine pics are from ZK-KGB. Remember to let me know if you have a request for an image of a particular part of the aircraft!
© 1996-2002 Phillip Treweek, all rights reserved