Yak-52 aircraft, which was handed over to DOSAAF of Belarus for free by Irkut Corporation, has already been used to train several tens of cadets, BELTA reports with reference to the head of DOSAAF press-center Andrei Drob.

“It was presented to us two years ago and it has already logged over 250 hours,” Andrei Drob said. Cadets improve their basic skills with flight instructors while piloting Yak-52 aircraft (since it is a two-seat trainer). The aircraft allows performing aerial stunts and Belarusian pilots, who have won some international prizes over the last few years, operate these vehicles at different international competitions and championships. DOSAAF added that the second aircraft of the type arrived in Minsk recently; it was also handed over to the organization for free by Irkut Corporation. 

This aircraft will be operated by Mogilev DOSAAF aeroclub. At present it is stationed at Borovoi airfield near Minsk. It will be ferried to Mogilev by the Class 1 pilot, head of Mogilev DOSAAF aeroclub, Ivan Kasim. Yak-52 is the trainer aircraft designed for basic training of pilots and cadets of Belarus air force academy. It was one of the major basic trainers in USSR in 1980s. The handover of the Yak-52 aircraft was a goodwill gesture aimed at increasing defense capabilities of Belarus and the Union State.