Yak 52 ugly? Our's isn't! (it has a spinner to sharpen that blunt nose). But it looks even better from the inside. And Southern Cross is right about short field take offs - open up that Vendeneyev (glorious!!), gear up, hold the aeroplane down 'till the windscreen is full of the trees at the far end, and ease the stick back - you zoom up to circuit height in a couple of seconds.
I would think a '50 is even more fun.
Oh, and I can also agree that Gennedy Elfimov (Genna) at Skytrace is THE Yakman. An excellent instructor and very highly experienced on type (his displays are gobsmacking). I learned more about Yakking in a hour with Genna than I would have thought possible.
SSD
[This message has been edited by Shaggy Sheep Driver (edited 07 December 2000).]