After three aborted attempts we have finally succeeded in collecting the latest addition to the Yakobats fleet.  We are proud to announce the acquisition of a rare a Yak-55,  the ultimate aerobatic machine.

The Yakovlev Yak-55 is an aerobatic aircraft designed by Slava Kondratiev. It has a thick mid-mounted symmetrical wing and is of a conventional monocoque all-metal construction. The undercarriage is fixed with sprung main gear and tailwheel. The engine is a 360 horsepower Vedeneyev M14P, the very same engine as we use in our Yak-52s.

The prototype first flew in May 1981 and was shown to the West in 1982. However, the Russian aerobatic team did use the aircraft until 1984 when they won the World Aerobatic Championship.

Our example was built in 1990 and has spent its early life being used by the Russian team until it passed on to a number of display pilots in Scandanavia.

 I arrived in Aarhus, Denmark to collect our new aircraft and with fuelling, oiling, “air-ing” done and flight plans filed it was time to set off.  First flight in a single seater is always a little nervy.  Having read all the manuals and spoken to other pilots nothing quite prepares you for the first time you take off, all on your own, and realise that you will have to teach yourself to land it!

After a rather gruelling 5.5 hours airbourne in one day "TLL" made it over from Denmark. stopping in Bremenhaven and Lelestad and finally at Shoreham (having beat up 4 airfields en-route at the request of ATC). Aircraft behaved beautifully, though after that length of time sat on a parachute I had a rather sore ass!! 

TLL is currently being re-engined and re-registered by our team of expert engineers in Shoreham.  We hope you like the new personalised registration we have chosen, G- OHNO !  Rather apt don’t you think...   ;-)

Performance

•Empty weight 640 kg

•Maximum speed (Vne) 450 km/h

•Maximum manoeuvring speed (Va) 360 km/h

•Rate of climb 1000 m per minute (3200 ft) with M14P

•Rate of roll 345° per second

•Take-off run 125 m (hard surface)

•Landing run 175 m (soft) to 450 m (hard.)