Russian Thunder: My First Aerobatic Airplane

Russian Thunder was my first experience with aerobatic airplane ownership. This two-seat, all-metal Yakovlev Yak-54 features titanium construction and is powered by a Vedeneyev M-14 radial engine spinning a custom three-bladed MT propeller.

The RealFlight Connection

What got me interested in this plane is that we used it on the cover of RealFlight for many years. At one point, the marketing folks at Hobbico wanted to show off the damage modeling in our simulation product, so they used a picture in the ads with a wing breaking off of the Yak-54 model.

I got a call from the previous owner’s wife asking if we could please change the aircraft because she and her husband saw a picture of their plane with a wing missing in Model Airplane News—and it scared them! We agreed, naturally, and it started me thinking: if I can fly a model airplane aerobatically, why don’t I try flying the real thing?

From Tucson to Scottsdale

I purchased this aircraft from an estate in Tucson. Flying down to negotiate the purchase, I fell in love with the Arizona desert scenery and beautiful sunny weather. “We get 360 flying days a year,” they told me, and it’s true. That trip eventually led me to move to Scottsdale.

Learning Experience

This was a nice airplane in many ways, but performance was not up to modern standards. The ailerons were the weak point, but I got great experience with control surface design by experimenting with them. I learned a lot during those days and still use the skills I built.

Aerobatically, the Yak-54 does everything a good aerobatic airplane can do, and I think it makes a great airshow aircraft. The sound of a radial engine is pleasant and unmistakable.

For full specifications, photos, and more details, visit the Russian Thunder page.