The Yakovlev Yak-55 is a single-seat aerobatic aircraft initially built in the 1980s by the Yakovlev design bureau. It is a mid-wing aircraft that first took to the air on May 28, 1981. The Yak-55 set numerous records for different pilots for winning aerobatic championships around the world.
In 1984, the Yak-55 was initially used by the Soviet aerobatic team during the World Aerobatic Championship where they successfully won the competition. In the same year, the Yak-55 designated as Kh-Makagonova operated by the Soviet woman’s aerobatic team had won first place on the competition.
The first prototype and the initial production version of Yak-55 had a long wingspan. The revised production variant was redesigned with a shortened wingspan and wing area. The Yak-55M is a more enhanced version with modified wings. It has a wingspan of 8.10 meters and a wing area of 12.8 square meters. The aircraft has an external length of 7.29 meters, an external height of 2 meters, a tail height of 2.25 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 1 meter. It is operated by a single crew. The wheelbase is 5.5 meters.
The aircraft is powered by a single Vedeneyev M14P radial engine. It is a nine-cylinder, four-stroke, air-cooled radial with a centrifugal, single-stage, single-speed supercharger, floatless carburetor fuel system, gear-type pump oil system, air-cooling system and is rated at 360.1 horsepower.
The aircraft has a gross weight of 855 kg for aerobatics, a maximum takeoff weight of 975 kg for a ferry flight, a maximum payload of 90 kg, and a fuel tank capacity of 73 US gallons. It has a maximum speed of 165 knots, a stall speed of 54 knots, and a never exceed speed of 240 knots.
The ferry range is 381 nautical miles. It can fly up to 13,125 feet and can climb at a rate of 3,050 feet per minute. The takeoff and landing distances are 150 meters and 300 meters, respectively.
The Technoavia SP-55M is developed from the Yak-55M that features a newly designed vertical tail and control surfaces covered by composite material. The Yak-56 is designed with low wings and retractable landing gear. It was built as a two-seater trainer but wasn’t able to enter production.
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