Yakety Yak...
Pilot|January 2017

Do talk back! Taming and displaying the Russian bear has been a challenge and a dream come true (but don’t tell my little Pitts!)

Lauren Richardson
Yakety Yak...

The rumble of the Russian radial reverberating through my body is accompanied by an unmistakable smell; a mixture of fuel, oil, smoke and well worn metal. Outside, the world passes beneath me, dreamlike, as I stare out through the canopy of this pure-bred aerobat, descendent of so many famous fighters. There is something indescribable about this machine that will be forever engrained in my soul.

I am first and foremost a Pitts pilot. I’ve been flying the diminutive biplane for a few years now and have spent the vast majority of my airborne time with two complete sets of wings strapped on, and a flat-four Lycoming ahead of me. Every time I come back down I am aware that, although mostly docile, she can transform into a raging demon at a moment’s notice, keeping me on my toes. So my reaction to AT Aviation’s invitation to fly the Yak-50 was split between confidence and terror about taking a seat in one of my ultimate bucket-list aircraft.

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