New Zealand Yak 3 questions.

[corsair67]

I was just curious to know a bit more about this beautiful Yak 3 that was at Classic Fighters this year.

Is it a new build airframe?

What type of powerplant does it have?

How long has it been in New Zealand.

I believe it's based at Wanaka; but is that correct?

[DragonflyDH90]

Its real sweet isnt it. I love Russian fighters.
This particular aircraft is not a new build as such it is a modified Yak-11 which share a lot of similar features. It was modified from one of the ex Egypt Yak-11's recovered by (dont quote me but I think I'm right) Mark Hanna in the 90's.
Some of the work was done in the UK with the remainder being done in NZ by Pioneer at Ardmore.
Its powered by an Allison instead of the Klimov V12, some of the original 3's were fitted with the Shvetsov Ash-82 radial also. There are new builds coming out of Europe, I think, that have P&W radials making them the Yak-3U knock off.
Pretty sure it was early 95 that it was finished but it had been here for a couple of years prior I think.
Its owned by Arthur Dovey at Wanaka.

[corsair67]

Thanks for that info, Ryan.

I thought I recognised the sound of an Alison, but I wasn't sure.

A lot of those Russian aircraft have been unfortunately overlooked, but they really did build some pretty amazing aircraft. The Germans certainly learnt the hard way during WWII that not all Russian aircraft were inferior to the Luftwaffe's machinery.

[Peter Lewis]

Civil registration is ZK-YYY
Aircraft built in 1947 as a Yak-11 for Egypt.
Came out through the USA as N11SN to the UK in 1993, and registered as G-BWOE in 1996 to Classic Aviation, Duxford. First flight in NZ was 14Apr05.

[corsair67]

Peter, thanks for that info. That Yak has quite a history: I was expecting to find out its only about 3 years old.

Peter, is there anything you don't know about NZ aviation?