Yak-3
Price : €625,000
Aircraft Information
Currently, with 400 hours on its 1,200-hour TBO engine (propeller on condition), and following a 2024 overhaul of its carburettor and pneumatic system, F-AZIM remains airworthy and has been a prominent fixture on the European and UK airshow circuits for the past five years. The aircraft exhibits a remarkable 9/10 condition, both internally and externally, while deliberately retaining some of the original patina.
History
The Yak-3U, the final evolution of the legendary Yak-3, was designed to counter the formidable FW-190 and Bf-109G. Powered by a robust Ash-82 radial engine, it addressed the unreliability of the previous V12 engines. This shift towards air-cooled engines proved advantageous as the focus of the air war shifted from aerial combat to ground support, where the radial’s resilience to ground fire was crucial. While production was limited due to the war’s end, the Yak-3U earned high praise from pilots for its exceptional manoeuvrability, closely resembling the agility of its predecessors despite a slightly reduced top speed. To address the high attrition rates of single-seat fighters during takeoff and landing, the Yak-3U was adapted into the Yak-3UTI two-seat trainer. This proved successful, leading to the development of the Yak-11, a dedicated trainer featuring a 700hp Ash-21 engine.
In the 1980s, French businessmen Jean-Paul Salis and Raymond Capel acquired 41 abandoned Yak-3s in Egypt. This coincided with the fall of the Soviet Union, enabling them to partner with Avioane, the original Yakovlev factory in Romania, for a unique restoration project.
Utilising a combination of original parts and newly manufactured components, they meticulously reconstructed five Yak-3s and several Yak-11s. The first Yak-3, F-AZIM, required an extensive 25,000 hours of labor. After its maiden flight in 1994, it remained active until an engine failure at the 2008 Duxford Air Show.
Following a period of inactivity in an Antwerp hangar, the new owner acquired F-AZIM in 2019. Undergoing a comprehensive restoration at F.A.S.T Brasschaat, Europe’s premier warbird workshop, the Yak-3 was returned to flying condition.
