An interesting shape and sound over Headcorn…

Just posted a pic to illustrate the huge difference between a good yak11 wing and one fitted to yak3 built in the 90’s in russia….

Hi, just few words about yak3, we must admit it is really a mess talking about different designations..yakovlev made few “yak3” in the 90’s …if you want to get an idea of the difference between the real yak 3 and new productions get a look at the wing spar, you’ll notice that on yak11 it is really bigger than on the newly produced yak3 (attached pic)…well yak 11 used the same technology that was used on yak 3 at the end of the war….
Yak 3 was really the best production of the factory, they ended with the klimov VK107 that had colling problems on the yak3VK107 but not on the yak 9…they decided to produce the yak 9 with the Klimov vk107 IN LARGE NUMBERS BUT PRODUCED THE YAK3 vk107 in just about 40 units due to the problems above mentionned…
Designation “Yak3U” is a radial engine variant that led to the yak11…
To my opinion the best approach is the yak 3 produced by john garric, he owns a complete original yak3 vk107 (wings and fuselage) , made a jig, and uses yak11 to modify the fuselage that houses allison V1710, also short mods to the wings + horiz stab. the fuselage is 40 cm aft as on the original vk107 for balance problems;….the only differences that need tuning is the spinner the canopy and the shape of the nose lower cowling ! But final result is a beauty !

A little bit more information on RA3364K. Now known to be a newly built Yak 3UA thanks to cdp206. Is the serial 0470203 the c/n ?

Talking to an engineer at Headcorn reveals that the aircraft has Yak 3 wings and a Yak 9 fuselage. It is no.18 of a production run of 21.

The aircraft is due to leave Headcorn for a private strip base shortly.

Pietenpol, though I don’t recognise which one. G-BKVO ?

Cheers for that, BR – never heard of it, so had a little Google. What an interesting beastie!

Adrian

Are both these aircraft now based in the uk? be nice to see this in formation with the polikarpov.

Mark,

It would seem so. Just had a quick look at Military Aircraft Markings August ’07 update and:

5 w Yakovlev Yak-3UA (0470204/D-FYGJ) Privately owned, Sleap
21 w Yakovlev Yak-3UA (0470203/RA-3364K) Privately owned, Headcorn

(http://homepage.ntlworld.com/airnet/MAMVintage3-2007.pdf – bottom of page 1)

Chris

Pietenpol, though I don’t recognise which one. G-BKVO ?

At risk of derailing all this Yakking, what’s the little parasol wing puddle-jumper behind it in the last piccy?

Always good to see Lashenden *pedant hat off* mentioned (well, except in the case of tragic accidents). I went to school at East Sutton and we used to be able to watch the Islander climbing up to deposit yet another stick of parachutists over Kent.

Adrian

Are both these aircraft now based in the uk? be nice to see this in formation with the polikarpov.

Speaking of yaks, i notice alain capels yak3 (or 9?) is still based at duxford. Any idea why?

Another Yak

Saw the Yak 3 from Sleap at Shobdon over the weekend. It flew in to support the open day and air races. It would be great to see a three-ship of these aircraft along with Maxi Gainza’s one.

Its good to hear from people who live near a brilliant Airfield . Thanks for the info Chris yeah I hope it based here but it seems odd that if it was not to be based at Headcorn why did it turn up there?:confused: oh yeah forgot about that nice looking Yak-52 ( G-CBMD ) and there are a few french built Tiger Moths Stampe the Let 410 and the Islander Shame the Black Beaver will not be there in the winter:( And The Freshest where abouts do you live?

Did however see a formation of 4 Yak-50/52’s fly in to the aerodrome in a lovely echelon formation.

Did they look like this http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0970960/L/ the Yakolevs team?

James

Consol, you’re quite right. My mistake!

I was near Headcorn flying models again today and heard what sounded like the Yak-3 takeoff and depart. Was out till sundown and didn’t see/hear it return.

Did however see a formation of 4 Yak-50/52’s fly in to the aerodrome in a lovely echelon formation.

I saw the Harvard ‘Carly’ run its engine up a couple of months ago but it didnt fly. Im too am going up to Headcorn tommorow, would be nice if the new Yak 3 flew. I took a trip up to Duxford today, saw a Yak 52 fly but none of the other regulars of the warbird kind, probably due to no airshows actually being held anywhere today.

I………..The tiger club I believe has Tigers G-ANGA and G-ASKP in service at the moment whilst the legendary G-ACDC is undergoing refurbishment. …………

Chris,

I think you mean G-ANJA rather than ‘NGA.

Stunning pics of the Yak – what kit did you use for the flying shots?

Was it brilliant I have been trying to look for pics off the show but I cant see any. I must pop back down to Headcron a fantastic airfield I like going on Saturdays to see the Parachute jumps I see they have a new Let 410 this time and not the normal one that comes down for the summer.Chris do you live In headcorn? I hope the Yak 3 does base there, as all we have is Tiger moths and the Harvard G-BGHU

BTW Is the YAK 50 still there thats in RAF Colours?

James

I live in Langley, a short drive away but tend to spend most weekends near or at Headcorn, model flying.

Yes the RAF painted Yak-50 is still there as is at least one other Yak-52. The tiger club I believe has Tigers G-ANGA and G-ASKP in service at the moment whilst the legendary G-ACDC is undergoing refurbishment.

I haven’t seen the Harvard ‘Carly’ fly there for a few years now, I heard something about the owner not being able to fly it for medical reasons. I hope that’s not true.

Yes I do hope the Yak-3 stays! It would be wonderful having a true warbird living locally 😉
I’m at Headcorn tomorrow so i’ll see if there are any updates.

Just had a look at last months Flypast but the other Yak 3 in there has different markings to this. It would be excellent if it was staying at Headcorn! I was up at headcorn for the Flying Proms last weekend, absolutely brilliant display by the two Mustangs (Janie and BBD).

Was it brilliant I have been trying to look for pics off the show but I cant see any. I must pop back down to Headcron a fantastic airfield I like going on Saturdays to see the Parachute jumps I see they have a new Let 410 this time and not the normal one that comes down for the summer.Chris do you live In headcorn? I hope the Yak 3 does base there, as all we have is Tiger moths and the Harvard G-BGHU

BTW Is the YAK 50 still there thats in RAF Colours?

James

Brian, great air-to-air pics!!!

I wish they were !! …air to air that is.

They were both taken from ground level. The second looks like air-to-air but is actually a high speed fly-by ( at about 300 mph !! ) with the starboard wing dipped towards the spectators. I’m rather pleased with that one actually as he was moving on a bit there.

Thanks for the Yak info. I’ll get back here when I find out more but it’s looking like it is a Yak 3 of some derivative.

Yak-3M or 3U

Brian, great air-to-air pics!!!

I know, it’s from Wiki…, but

‘In addition, since 1991, a number of Yak-3s have been newly manufactured by Yakovlev for the warbird market using the original plans and dies. These are powered by Allison V-1710 engines and have the designation Yak-3M. Several of these are airworthy today, mostly in the United States, but also in Germany and Australia. Others have been converted to “Yak-3” status from Yak-11 trainers (with the fitting of a Allison engine) for private owners, with these aircraft also being very popular worldwide.’
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakovlev_Yak-3

‘In the early 1990s, the Yakovlev organization actually put the Yak-3 back into production as the “Yak-3U”, building a small batch that was sold to private “warbird” collectors by a company in California. These machines were actually fitted with the Allison V-1710 inline engine, as workable Klimov engines could no longer be found at any reasonable cost.’
http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avyak1.html#m3

YAK-3U or YAK-9P – this is the question! :confused:

…..and a very good question it is too !

I took the pictures of the fence collision that Ollie linked to earlier. Ollies version of what happened is indeed correct. Could have been a lot worse, there’s a camper van in the picture that came close to becoming a convertible !!

I was talking to one of the airfield engineers at the time who told me that it was a Yak 3 but registered as a Yak 9. I did a bit of research and the original Yak 3 shows as being a single seater with a Yak 9V two seater being developed after the war. Based on this information I uploaded the pictures as a Yak 9P as that was the only variant available on the website. The 9V information was found after I uploaded.

However, the plot thickens.

One of the pictures has also been uploaded to airliners.net and the screener changed the designation to Yak 3. They are adament that it’s a 3. To further deepen the plot it appears that RA3364K is a new build using original Yakovlev drawings from the Yak 3, but built as a two seater. I would guess that this is the reason for it being reputedly registered as a 9 and would guess that the logical designation should be 9V. The Yak 9 was certainly built as a progression from the Yak 3. The pictured aircraft, by the way is definitely an Allison engined version.

For more Yak information go here >>>>>>http://www.faqs.org/docs/air/avyak1.html

I’ll be talking further with the engineer who has access to the aircrafts’ documents and correct the pictures data if necessary.

My first post on this site, looks like there’s a wealth of knowledge here.

Brian Whitelegg.

PS. Here’s a couple of pictures of her flying properly !

Crikey what happened there?! Did he try landing on the taxiway rather than the Runway?:confused: Or was it a mis-judged turn?
Didn’t see any damage when I saw it up-close. But then, I wasn’t looking for any. I’m surprised the owner even spoke to me at all, let alone let me free to photo his pride and joy after that!

From what i have herd from speeking to the guy who took the photos he misjudged the turn and the brakes where not to effective. He also said the only damage was to the trim tab.

Ooops:
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6031534&nseq=1
http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=6031536&nseq=0

Crikey what happened there?! Did he try landing on the taxiway rather than the Runway?:confused: Or was it a mis-judged turn?
Didn’t see any damage when I saw it up-close. But then, I wasn’t looking for any. I’m surprised the owner even spoke to me at all, let alone let me free to photo his pride and joy after that!