MOSCOW. July 11 (Interfax-AVN) - Fifty to eighty YAK-52 aerobatic trainers will be upgraded into YAK-52M in two coming years. A preliminary agreement to that effect has been concluded with the Russian Air Force, President of the Yakovlev Design Bureau Oleg Demchenko told Interfax-Military News Agency Friday.
"We will demonstrate stationary a YAK-52M at the MAKS 2003 air show in Zhukovsky, Moscow region, in August. The aircraft will make a maiden flight this year," he said.
According to him, the Ivanovo Aircraft Repairs Plant where the first YAK-52 is currently being upgraded has all the necessary equipment and documentation.
The upgrade of the aircraft, Demchnko went on, will provide the Russian Air Force academies with a modern trainer until the SU-49 becomes operational. He said that the upgrade would be very fast and inexpensive - about USD35,000-40,000 per plane.
In accordance with the requirements specification of the Russian Air Force, the YAK-52M will have allow cadets to perform route flights and flights in formation; it will also render the aircraft an all-weather day/night capability. On the whole about 30 percent of the onboard equipment will be replaced, he said.
The upgraded aircraft will feature better piloting and larger fuel tanks rendering it a transportation range of 900km. The aircraft will also have the new SKS-94MYa ejection seat with a new canopy and canopy emergency opening system. The airframe service life of the YAK-52M will be up to 3,000 hours, and the overall life at least 30 years.
The YAK-52M has a takeoff weight of 1,340kg. The maximal piloting speed is 360kmph, the maximal horizontal flight speed is 290kmph, and the maximal climbing capacity is 14mps.