DOSAAF, Russian acronym for the Benevolent society for support of the army and navy, has plans to procure Yakovlev Yak-54 two-seat single-piston aircraft for pilot training, according to DOSAAF spokesman Sergey Mayev. He was quoted by Intexfax agency.

In Khabarovsk Sergey Mayev hold meeting of the coordination council with heads of DOSAAF regional branches and flight schools. He also talked to Victor Ishaev, Russia’s president representative in the Far East federal district. «Next year we will purchase a number of Yakovlev Yak-54 sport aircraft from Arseniev-based Progress plant with intent to use these aircraft in our flying clubs», Mayev said.

The Yak-54 is one of the most recent designs from Russian aircraft manufacturers specially developed for sportsmen. The airplane can also be used in the role of a screener. The Yak-54 is powered by either M-14P series radial piston engine developing between 340 and 360 hp depending on version or its further derivative M-9F with maximum power exceeding 400 hp. The aircraft provided a base for development of the Chinese L-7 sport aircraft that had its public debut at Airshow China 2010 held 16-21 November in Zhuhai, Guangdong province.