Yakovlev Yak-3U 'Steadfast'

The German invasion of the USSR in 1941 seriously slowed the development of a successor to the Soviet’s Yak-1 fighter. However, by 1943 Sergeyevich Yakovlev had designed a new fighter, and resources were available to build it. The Yak-3 quickly became one of the most feared Allied combat aircraft due to its high speed and maneuverability. As a fighter it was formidable in a dogfight and its power-to-weight ratio meant it was efficient and very maneuverable, which allowed for precision close range combat.

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Between 1991-2002 there were 21 Yak-3, -7 and -9 aircraft produced in the former USSR using original plans and dies. Generally these were powered by the Allison V-1710 inline or the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engine in place of the original Klimov V-12s used during WW2. Other replicas have been converted to ‘Yak-3U’ status from original Yak-11 trainers.

Based on the original Yak-3UR trainer prototype, ‘Steadfast’ was built in 2005 in Romania by Avioane Craiova as part of a small run of ten ‘new-build’ Yak-3U replicas. However, unlike the other nine examples, this aircraft sports a Pratt & Whitney R-2000 7M2 Twin Wasp radial engine highlightling that the aircraft was designed from the start to be a very high performance machine. It began its racing career at the Reno Air Races (Nevada) in 2006 and it holds nine world records, including several ‘time to climb’ records, and the 2011 World Speed Record (655kph) for the under 3000kg category.

Steadfast was originally imported into the USA by Eddie Andreini, whose goal was to foinish the fitout of the aircraft, including installing the engine, canopy, systems and fairings. Sometime after this work was completed the aircraft was purchased by air racing pilot Will Whiteside who had been looking for a new racing mount.

Aiming to enter the aircraft in the Unlimited Class category at the Reno air races (Nevada, USA), Will had decided that the Yak 3U with iyt's huge radial engine would be a cost effective aircraft to operate and race. For six years Whiteside raced the aircraft at the annual event in Reno where he placed in a number of events including a first in the Unlimited Silver category.

Once the aircraft's racing career was over it was sold to James Crockett in Queensland, Australia.

After being operated in Australia for another six years or so (mainly on the airshow display cicruit) Crockett decided it was time to sell the aircraft, and new owners Mark O'Sullivan and Ronan Harvey were more than happy to ship the aircraft to its new home base at Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim, New Zealand. Steadfast often displays at Omaka, and at other airshows and events around New Zealand.

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