Yak-55

In 1934, an old bed production factory in Russia was converted into an experimental aviation plant. Alexander Sergeevich Yakovlev headed the Department of Light Aircrafts with the goal of training pilots to fly fast monoplanes. The company, while producing new planes for the Russian military, also transitioned current pilots from the slow combat biplane to the newer, faster single winged aircrafts.

The airplanes designed and produced at this factory by Alexander Yakovlev were given his last name and a designation number, i.e., Yakovlev-1 (YAK-1). There have been many different Yakovlev aircraft produced since 1934, although none have the aerobatic ability of the YAK-55. This plane was given the name YAK even though it was designed by Flava Kondratiev. Production of the YAK-55 began in the early 1980s and the Russian Aerobatic Team began using them in 1984, when it won the World Aerobatic Championship. Its fast rate of roll, great visibility, roomy cockpit, low maintenance, and easy handling made the YAK-55 a favorite among other aerobatic teams as well. One of the unique things about the YAK-55 is the 360 hp M-14P engine that rotates the propeller to the left, the opposite of most aircraft.

The Fighter Factory purchased its Yakovlev-55 in February 2001 from the factory in which it was built in 1990. The plane was kept at the factory for use in their flying club and by employees. The plane arrived in Virginia in June of 2001 and after a new paint scheme, it will be performing at airshows on the East Coast.