Any Yak-52 owners around the Oxfordshire area?

[jonesy1275]

As the title says really. I'm looking to get in contact with any owners of Yak-52's or something similar to use as a camera ship for an air to air shoot.

Anybody know of any?

Cheers,
Neil.

[BizJetJockey]

Try White Waltham Airfield near Maidenhead!! There are numerous YAKs there including Russian engineering who will know all the right people.

[AucT]

There is a private Yak at The Pilot Centre, Denham.

[Genghis the Engineer]

I know a professional photographer who flies a Yak-52 for fun out of Popham.

I don't believe that he posts on Pprune, but if you PM me your contact details, I'll pass them onto him.

Why specifically a Yak? I can think of better camera ships (and may even have one when it's serviceable). More importantly may be to have a suitably experienced pilot.

G

[TechCons]

I'd be happy to help out if you want. I run a Yak 52 syndicate based at Popham (the same aircraft that Genghis mentioned). I've used it before for air to air shoots with another photographer pal of mine. PM me if you'd like to discuss.

[jonesy1275]

Thank you to everybody who's replied and will pm everybody concerned.

The reasons why I've asked for a Yak-52? Well, I've used one before to do a shoot of a Tiger Moth with great results and whichever one I manage to get will be allowed to be part of the static display at an airshow where the shoot will happen.

[taybird]

Seems to be a bit of a mis-match in speeds there. It'll be hard work for the Moth driver and the Yak alike.

I've flown a Taylorcraft BC12D (American aircraft contemporary to the Cub, although a bit faster) as photo ship for vintage aircraft shoots with speeds similar to the Tiger and it's worked really well. Made the cover of a magazine in one case, so not bad. Although that was down to a great photographer and a well flown subject aeroplane as well, but the similar speeds helped this.

I've also formated on a T6 in a Pitts S1S, which is a little more challenging - more akin to the scenario you're describing and I promise you both pilots were working very hard.

Plus the petrol for a Taylorcraft or Cub at 15litres an hour is considerably less than a Yak52. Just a thought to consider broadening your options.

[jonesy1275]

That's good info thanks. In this instance, the target aircraft will have a slightly higher cruising speed than the Yak but will be considerably less manouverable.

I think the Yak-52/Tiger Moth combo worked very well for me a few years ago. Since I do very little air to air with props, I haven't got much experience in a good camera ship so I went with what I knew. Plus a nicely painted Yak-52 will look good in the static display before being used to fly myself.

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5065/5570785162_1ba736cb7a_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57255120@N00/5570785162/)
de Havilland DH.82A Tiger Moth (http://www.flickr.com/photos/57255120@N00/5570785162/) by jonesy1275 (http://www.flickr.com/people/57255120@N00/), on Flickr

[Genghis the Engineer]

I can bring a Stinson Voyager and formation trained pilot to the party if any good? Will match speeds well with slower GA (can maintain S&L anywhere in the range roughly 55-100kn) and with flat (and in the front, openable) windows makes for a reasonable camera ship.

Downsides are that the aeroplane's currently sick (hopefully sorted in a few weeks), the pilot (me) is a bit rusty in formation, but good enough for camera work and trying to get some more practice in this summer anyhow, plus the struts can be a mild nuisance.

G

[jonesy1275]

G,

I really appreciate the offer but a few leads has occurred through my posting which may result in a Yak-52.

Neil.

[Wide-Body]

Seems to be a bit of a mis-match in speeds there. It'll be hard work for the Moth driver and the Yak alike.

Nahh Taybird its OK. Just got to be well briefed and have your positioning sorted.

As you know dissimilar formation can be tough, but it is also so much fun

[taybird]

Wide-Body
"As you know dissimilar formation can be tough, but it is also so much fun"

Absolutely, it's rare that I get to do similar type! But that's with leaders who are extremely experienced in that kind of formation which helps. For air-to-air, having a similar lead means the camera ship can be flown more steadily and the subject can position more accurately on command.

As for dissimilar type fun, it's definitely fun! But that's cos it's hard :)

Anyway, the OP has his mount, so all's sorted. It would be great to see the pics once they're done.

[jonesy1275]

If it all comes together then I'll post a few photos.

Again, thanks to you all for assisting.