In my opinion it is not a Yak 3...............
I know this dispaly team continually refer to it as such and have some logic to do so...................
Its a converted Yak 11.............
The Yak 11 was a two seat trainer derived from the Yak 3 fuselage and wing with Shvetov Ash 21 (580 hp) engine.
Not a R-2800 nor an Ash 82 (1650 hp).
This ac does give a very nice display ( I have seen converted Yak11's like this at Duxford twice).
The logic for the display teams Yak 3 claim is that the cockpit has been re designed back to original Yak 3 single seat configuration and location....................b ut the engine is no where near the original either in power or configuration.
In fact other Yak 11 -Yak 3 conversions have taken place where by an allison engine is used although not the original engine the weight, power and shape are at least more similar than this Ash 21 variant
It quite annoys me to hear so called aero expert commentators at air shows spout about the heritage of the Merlin engined spit fire in one breath then claim that the plane before us is a Yak 3 "but with a different engine" and then recount how this plane was the mainstay of the Russian airforce.................... I suppose if a spit turned up with a nice big radial on the front they would say the same thing?
