# Yakovlev Yak 50 — yak50_fltrep50

> **NOT FOR FLIGHT** — source fidelity: unreviewed | operational review: none | completeness: full

> **content_gap**: Section "Aircraft Description" item count differs between passes (25 vs 24); verify nothing was dropped.
> **content_gap**: Section "Cruise" item count differs between passes (4 vs 6); verify nothing was dropped.

## Aircraft Description

**General**
> **NOTE:** The Yak 50 is an all-metal tail dragger designed solely for advanced aerobatics training and competition.
> **NOTE:** The fuselage is semi monocoque, a combination of stressed skin and steel re-enforcement.
> **NOTE:** The strong but simple main gear is semi-retractable, the lockable tailwheel permanently extended.
> **NOTE:** The Yak 50 has no flaps.
> **NOTE:** Flying controls are conventional and operated by control cables for the elevator and rudder, push rods for the ailerons.
> **NOTE:** Only the elevator trim is adjustable in flight, the rudder and ailerons served by fixed tabs which are manipulated on the ground.
**Engine Power**
> **NOTE:** Powerplant: Ivchenko M14 radial, supercharged nine cylinder radial, 360hp at max rpm.
> **NOTE:** Propeller: variable pitched two-bladed paddle via a simple gearbox.
> **NOTE:** Fuel capacity on the basic aircraft is 11.4 imperial gallons contained in a single tank mounted aft of the firewall.
> **NOTE:** Maximum flight endurance is quoted as 50 minutes and this figure can be halved during advanced aerobatic flights.
> **NOTE:** A welcome mod fitted to the vast majority of Yak 50s is the installation of a cruise tank which more than doubles the fuel capacity, although the G limits are reduced when full fuel is carried.
> **NOTE:** The Yak 50 uses pneumatics for engine starting, gear and brake operation.
> **NOTE:** The aircraft's air bottle will give around 12 start attempts before a recharge is necessary and a reserve bottle is also installed for emergency gear extension.
> **NOTE:** The main bottle gets recharged automatically once the engine has started.
**Cockpit**
> **NOTE:** The undercarriage lever is positioned on the left of the main panel, two green lights confirming that the gear is down and locked when the aircraft is on the ground.
> **NOTE:** The throttle, rpm and lock lever form a meaty quadrant on the left shelf with another panel ahead comprising levers for the engine cooling gills and oil cooler flap.
> **NOTE:** For most of the year the cooling levers will reside in the fully forward (open) position.
> **NOTE:** The big red lever is the fuel shut off, replacing the emergency function of a mixture lever. Fuel mixture control is fully automatic.
> **NOTE:** The instrument panel uses metric units. Most owners replace the altimeter since it reads in meters. The airspeed indicator reads in km/h.
> **NOTE:** The engine has two main control indicators: an rpm gauge reading from 0 to 100%, and a manifold pressure gauge reading in mm of mercury.
> **NOTE:** The Yak 50's electrics are in the centre of the panel and the fuel primer is located to the top right.
> **NOTE:** The mag switch is mounted on the left of the panel next to the engine starter button.

## Preflight / Before Entering Cockpit

> **NOTE:** Climbing into the cockpit and strapping into the chunky five point harness, one is immediately aware of the ruggedness of the Yak 50.
> **NOTE:** Visibility from the cockpit is excellent in every direction except forwards.

## Engine Start

- [ ] Battery master — **OFF**
- [ ] Ignition and mags — **OFF**
- [ ] Primer lever — **TURN LEFT**
- [ ] Primer pump — **PUMP 5 TIMES**
- [ ] Primer lever — **TURN RIGHT**
- [ ] Primer pump while helper turns prop — **PUMP SIMULTANEOUSLY**
- [ ] Prop blades past windscreen — **9 BLADES**
- [ ] Prop turner — **CLEAR**
- [ ] Battery, ignition and generator — **ON**
- [ ] Throttle — **OPEN 2 INCHES**
- [ ] Starter switch — **HIT**
- [ ] As engine fires, mags — **BOTH**
- [ ] Keep engine going with primer pumps — **LIBERAL PUMPS**
> **CAUTION:** Don't bother pumping the throttle – no accelerator pump is fitted and this will have zero effect.
> **CAUTION:** After start, leave the primer centralised, not turned to the right. Result of leaving it right: rough running engine, excessive fuel burn and early engine overhaul.

## After Start / Warm Up

- [ ] After a few seconds the engine settles down — **CHECK**
- [ ] Switches — **SET**
- [ ] Radio — **ADJUST**
- [ ] Straps — **RETIGHTEN**
> **NOTE:** A cold Ivchenko does not warm up to taxying temperature in less than five minutes, with ten minutes being more typical on a standard UK day.
- [ ] Oil temperature reaches 40 degree point — **WAIT**
- [ ] Engine run — **DO**

## Taxi

> **NOTE:** Differential braking is applied by a stick-mounted hand lever and controlled by the amount of rudder applied away from its neutral position.
> **NOTE:** With the stick in the aft position, the Yak 50's tailwheel will lock straight.
> **CAUTION:** To turn, push the stick forward; taxying with the stick aft locks the tailwheel straight.

## Before Takeoff

- [ ] Throttle and rpm levers — **FULLY FORWARD**
- [ ] Left rudder (prop goes round the 'wrong' way) — **PUSH**
- [ ] Throttle — **ADVANCE FULL FORWARD**

## Takeoff

- [ ] Once aircraft is underway, stick — **FORWARD TO RAISE TAIL**
> **NOTE:** Take-off roll is around 100 metres at MTOW.
> **NOTE:** Climbs at 3,000 feet per minute.

## After Takeoff / Climb

- [ ] Gear — **RAISE BEFORE 200 KM/H**
- [ ] Prop rpm — **REDUCE TO MAX 82%**
> **NOTE:** A more modest '70%, 70mm' setting conserves engine life.

## Cruise

> **NOTE:** In the cruise any 'square' setting will do, for example, for 70 on the manifold gauge set 70% rpm, for 60 manifold set 60%.
- [ ] Cruise speed — **UP TO 280 KM/H (151 KT)**
> **NOTE:** Full throttle and 82% are the quoted maximum continuous power setting, giving max level speed of 300 km/h (162 Kt).
> **NOTE:** Major engine overhaul every 500 hours.

## Descent / Circuit

> **NOTE:** In the circuit the Yak is easy to operate. The sum total of good all-round visibility, draggy aeroplane and high power results in a slick approach every time.

## Approach

- [ ] Undercarriage — **LOWER AT 200 KM/H OR LESS**
- [ ] Approach speed — **150 KM/H**
- [ ] Threshold speed — **100 KM/H**
> **NOTE:** The speed reduction on finals requires the throttle to be closed early and the aircraft held off until the speed bleeds back.

## Landing

> **CAUTION:** The Yak's large wing and short undercarriage can cause an excessive float if the airspeed is too high on landing.
> **NOTE:** With repeated practise the Yak can be brought to a halt in 150 metres on a dry surface.

## Control Harmony and Aerobatics

> **NOTE:** Control harmony is typically 3.2.3 for ailerons, elevator and rudder instead of the classical 1,2,3.
> **NOTE:** Spades are an option on the Yak 50, recommended for serious aerobatic pilots.
> **NOTE:** In pitch the Yak 50's stick force per G is very light; pulling up to the nine G maximum does not require excessive strength.
> **NOTE:** During advanced aerobatics many pilots release the throttle to fly with two hands on the stick.
> **NOTE:** With the aircraft wound up to its Vno of 400 km/h (226kt) the Yak 50 can perform huge lazy loops, barrel rolls and wing overs with low G forces.
> **NOTE:** Stalls and spins are surprisingly docile. Stall and spin recovery are predictable and standard. Some advanced aerobats have to be positively wrestled out of an established spin; the Yak 50 is one of the exceptions.

## Fuel and Range

> **NOTE:** With a standard 55 litre fuel tank fitted, an airfield will be needed every 60nm when cruising at 162kt.
> **NOTE:** A more sedate 200 km/h (108kt) improves the range to 85nm.
> **NOTE:** With a cruise tank fitted the aircraft's best range jumps to 250nm at economy cruise.
> **NOTE:** Given such a short range, a GPS is a very desirable installation for a Yak 50.

## Specifications — Yak 50

**External Dimensions**
- [ ] Span — **31 FT 3 IN**
- [ ] Length — **24 FT 5 IN**
- [ ] Wing area — **161 SQ FT**
**Weights and Loadings**
- [ ] Empty weight — **1,624 LB**
- [ ] Useful load — **496 LB* / 377 LB**
- [ ] Gross weight — **2,120 LB / 2,001 LB**
- [ ] Power loading — **5.9 LB/HP**
- [ ] Wing loading — **13.1 LB/SQ FT**
- [ ] Fuel capacity — **26.2 IMP GALLONS**
- [ ] G limits — **+9G / -6.6G**
- [ ] Number of seats — **1**
> **NOTE:** (*denotes aerobatic figures)
**Power**
- [ ] Engine manufacturer/type — **IVCHENKO (VEDENEYEV) M14P**
- [ ] Max power — **360 HP @ 2,900 PROP RPM**
- [ ] Propeller type and diameter — **2-BLADE VP 94.2 IN**
**Performance**
- [ ] Vne — **232 KT**
- [ ] Maximum level speed — **162 KT**
- [ ] Cruise speed @ 75% — **151 KT**
- [ ] Stall speed, power off — **48 KT**
- [ ] Stall speed, power on — **45 KT**
- [ ] Rate of climb (sea level) — **3,000 FT/MIN**
- [ ] Ceiling (oxygen limited) — **10,000 FT**
- [ ] Take off run — **328 FT**
- [ ] Landing run — **492 FT**
- [ ] Range (cruise tank, 45 min reserve) — **200 NM**
- [ ] Endurance — **2.5 HR**
**Price**
- [ ] Price — **£35,000-£45,000**
- [ ] UK suppliers — **MARK AND JOHN JEFFERIES AT YAK UK, LITTLE GRANSDEN AIRFIELD, BEDFORDSHIRE. TELEPHONE (01767) 651156**

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NOT FOR FLIGHT — source fidelity: unreviewed | operational review: none | completeness: full  
Source: Yakovlev/Yak 50/yak50_fltrep50.txt  
Rights: licensed  
Checklist hash: 72724063fec855cdfc319465613054c67fdc12445136a42ad32760c202c98b88  
Verify against the aircraft's own approved documentation before use.