The Soviet-built WW2 fighter (Yak-3) that almost nailed it at Reno - Full Noise

In 2017, New Zealand owner/pilot Graeme Frew became the first person in history to qualify for the Gold race at their first Reno Championship Air Races (Nevada, USA).
The Yakovlev Yak-3 is a World War II-era Soviet fighter aircraft that became the scourge of Germany's Luftwaffe when the type entered service in 1944 - its top speed is over 400mph.
This Yak had raced at Reno previously, but was seriously damaged in an accident during take-off in 1999. Frew bought the remains of the aircraft and had it rebuilt at Omaka in New Zealand.
Reno is one of the few remaining places where air racing (known as the world’s fastest motorsport) is still undertaken. Most aircraft in the Unimited classes are ex-WW2 era fighters .
This aircraft which is now dubbed 'Full Noise', is one of the few Reno racers that you can ride in. If you're keen on an adrenaline pumping flight in this aircraft see: www.fighterflig...
'Full Noise' is shown here during a flight at held at Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim, New Zealand.
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Copyright © 2018 Historical Aviation Film Unit
This video material may not be reproduced in any form (except on other websites as an unedited embedded video which links back to to this KZbin master), without the written permission of the Historical Aviation Film Unit.
This particularly applies to television broadcasters and other media outlets.

[@DumbledoreMcCracken]

Yak-3 is my favorite WWII airplane. First saw one in the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica in 1999.

[@murraywebb363]

Really enjoyed watching “Full Noize” at Reno. Graeme is a very smooth pilot. Section 3 in the stands were all screaming Yakyakyakyakyak each time he passed the home pylon. Hope to see this beauty again. Cheers

[@DeoVindice_61-65]

Beautiful plane, even more beautiful sound.

[@MarsFKA]

For the last few years, the Yak 3 based at Wanaka has flown out to the coast to Oamaru to open the annual Santa Parade, giving locals the sound of an Allison engine going overhead at 500 feet, as it flies down the main street. Very noisy and very popular. Last year, they also included a Blunty - ex Air Force BAC Strikemaster jet trainer and it looks like the Blunty might be the star Santa Parade opener for the next few years, as the Yak was the one that lost its starboard wing at the Warbirds Over Wanaka air show last Easter.

[@schlusselmensch]

One of the nicest (if not the nicest) flying fighters of WW2.

[@giggling_boatswain]

He is really beautiful even from a modern point of view.

[@Fuzeha]

and best performing too!

[@pbyrne1400]

Beautifully proportioned!

[@user-go3hz2rf8w]

Спасибо!

[@parciuleagheorghe6617]

In anul 1936 URSS a cumpàrat de la Francezi patentul motorului Hyspano Suiza V12 pentru aviatie care scotea 600 CP. Dealungul anilor au ameliorat performantele motorului ajungând sà scoatà la sfârsitul ràzboiului 2000 CP, si astfel avionul YAK a devenit cel mai performant avio vânàtoare din lume!

[@rolanderbs2486]

Yak 3 is the most beautiful plane ever.. for me

[@jimmadonna1436]

I love it too. The Germans were warned not to engage with it under 5000 meters.It was able to retain it energy even when other aircraft had to start over. There are reports of P 51s squaring up with the YAK 3 over oil fields in Romania and the YAK3 beat the p51 3 times.

[@giggling_boatswain]

He is really beautiful even from a modern point of view.

[@jimmadonna1436]

The YAK 3 was the tightest turning and best low altitude performing aircraft of WW2. Loved by piolots and the ground crews.

[@ilyaluv6186]

And what about La-5, La-7, I-16(Rat)?

[@jimmadonna1436]

@@ilyaluv6186 what about them?

[@ilyaluv6186]

Of course it's not very fair to compare the planes being built in different time periods and built for different purpose but still if to follow pilots memoirs the favor was often on the side of La-7. It was faster(on forsage/Afterburner?) and more maneuverable than Yak, I guess larger wing span and shorter frame together with wise engine choice do the trick. Imho it's hard to distinguish who would be overall the best among La-5-m71 vs. Yak 3 and La-7 on low to mid altitude.Before La-7 there was also great respect given to Bell P-39 and I--16 for tighter cornering and speed (in case of Airacobra) over Lagg-3 that was mainstream of that period.

[@davidvance6367]

Jim Madonna, turn with a zero?

[@leneanderthalien]

@@davidvance6367 the Mitsubishi A6M also called "zero" from the US was built like a aeroclub aircraft: so light as possible and the main cause was the engine who had limited power: the Nakagima Sakae is a evolution from the French Gnome&Rhone 14K "mistral major" (Japan did buy the license before the war) who had only 880hp.Later Nakagima's reach 1200hp...But in term turning rate was all the french fighters (1939-40) excellent, the Dewoitine D520 had similar agility as the Spitfire, MS406 and Bloch 152 was not far behind...

[@Dragunov302]

I love the YAK 3 for its performance and it’s sound. But the original yak 3 or 3p used a klimov engine

[@leneanderthalien]

yes but Klimov 105 and 107 engines are now very rare and not rebuilt...for the story are this engines far evolutions from the Hispano Suiza Y12 engine...

[@rocketaviationart583]

Gonna be there this go round! This is what I'm most excited to see!

[@GlideYNRG]

Got the earphones in for a change, sounds bloody lovely.

[@jeffboatright]

"In 2017, New Zealand owner/pilot Graeme Frew became the first person in history to qualify for the Gold race at their first Reno Championship Air Races (Nevada, USA)." It's pedantic, but didn't every pilot who raced in the first-ever Gold race at Reno also qualify for the Gold race at their first Reno Championship Air Race? ;) I saw the Yak at the races a couple of times. It adds A LOT of excitement to the mix!

[@giggling_boatswain]

Bravo legend fighter, bravo Yakovlev. Squadron "Normandy - Neman" and the best aces, falcons of Stalin.

[@leneanderthalien]

Yes the franco-soviet squadron Normandie Nieman was fitted with 100% "free french" pilots, but with soviet mecanics.If the french pilots arrives in USSR , given the soviets the choice from the aircrafts to the pilots, and they choice the Yak 1 to honour for the Soviet fighters: this was never forgott from the soviets, and they give to the Normandie Niemen the best equipement available= sucesses was on rendez vous some french pilots was named "hero of the soviet union"...They use later Yak 3 and yak 9...For the story, are the klimov engines a little bit french: they are far evolutions from the Hispano Suiza Y12 engines use in the best WW2 french fighter, the Dewoitine D520!

[@zanegrey4720]

The yak 3 Russian spitfire and it sure is this thing beautiful little aircraft.

[@tsmgguy]

Recipe for a successful WWII fighter plane: put the largest possible engine in the smallest possible airframe.

[@DavidCurryFilms]

Fly very quick, glide like a brick.

[@andrewk.7498]

Also largely made of wood if it's the right plane I'm thinking of.

[@kingghidorah8106]

just know about the VK107 Rolls Royce Merlin copy for the Spitfire lf mk 9... a little monster powered by a 2000hp engine

[@leneanderthalien]

@@kingghidorah8106 you are totaly false: the VK 107 is a evolution from the M105, who was himself a development from the Hispano Suiza Y12 use in the french fighter Morane 406 and Dewoitine D520: USSR did buy the license from thre Y12 before the war.This engine was called in France "moteur canon" (canon engine) because include a 20mm HS404 Hispano Suiza canon between the cylinder banks and firing trough the propeller shaft...

[@MarsFKA]

Two weeks ago, I was at the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre to see their new "Dangerous Skies" exhibition, part of which is this aircraft. However, it was parked in one of the workshops out the back and its place in the exhibition was taken by a Yak 3 which is undergoing restoration. "Dangerous Skies" is closed to the public during the Classic Fighters Omaka air shows, because the exhibition features aircraft in flying condition, all of which are outside, taking part in the activities. The aircraft are the only Mark 1 Avro Anson flying anywhere, this Yak 3 and the Mark XIV Spitfire. That night, I went online and bought a discount Gold Pass for next year's air show. (Free plug) www.classicfighters.org.nz/classic-fighters-airshow-tickets.php if anyone reading this is in a position to go. I've been to the last two and it's a great way to spend Easter.

[@danielraynaud2013]

Superbe avion ! "Du feu de dieu!"

[@tomthx5804]

Love the sound of that small block Chevy engine.

[@historicalmachines]

It's an Allison v-1710 being. Same as in the P40.

[@davidvance6367]

Tom thx,oh wow man cool

[@Dragunov302]

Lmao tom lmao

[@umxair3894]

I love the sound of the engine!

[@MarsFKA]

That's my ride. My credit card is at last up to the challenge and, come May, I'll be doing thirty minutes in the back seat.

[@MarsFKA]

More to the above: I got my flight. What a ride! Hottest hot rod I ever sat in and the noise in the cockpit was incredible, but that's what you get when you're sitting less than ten feet behind a 1500 horsepower V12. I could see the air speed indicator with its red line just under 400 mph and we were close to it a couple of times. Great ride! I'm still buzzing.

[@davidvance6367]

MarsFKA, Why not just save the money in the first place. This credit card mania has people understanding this is how money works. If you haven't the money in the first place. You must save it up

[@MarsFKA]

@@davidvance6367 I don't spend the money until I have it . Happy now? Keep your patronising, gratuitous comments to yourself.

[@albertogarciaarango2411]

Superb!

[@sharatsharma8273]

Awesome.fearsome sound.but landing looked unstable.

[@135iN55]

He did a great job of keeping the tail off the ground to keep weight on the brakes. You can see the elevator deflected down. It does gotta lotta flaps, I'll bet thats the lowest landing speed in class which means more control surface travel required.

[@vlad_aquila1581]

Красавец!

[@giggling_boatswain]

He is really beautiful even from a modern point of view.

[@looneytunes47]

one of the only actual ww2 fighter planes that a non millionaire can still afford to acquire all other ww2 examples left are far too expensive for the average person.

[@ronmartin3755]

I know these Yak's do not have their original Russian engines in them but as small and light as they are if a group of rich racing men would get together and put an engine in one like Voodoo or Strega and modify the airframe and wings and get 4000 horse power from the Rolls Royce Merlin, the Yak 3 would dominate Reno Unlimited Gold. The German pilots of WWII flying the 109's and 190's were told to run from a Yak if they saw one! These little buggers were fairly fast even with the Russian engines in them and being small and light they could climb and turn like no other plane in the war. I sure wish I could get in one and fly it for a while! The only WWII plane I have ever flown was an AT 3 Trainer!

[@user-zx5pg2dx6x]

I wonder, what engine was used in this replica? The sound is very reminiscent of DB-601

[@historicalmachines]

Allison v-1710 V12 -- same as in the P40.

[@DavidCurryFilms]

Merlin, DB601, Allison all v12 sound.

[@MarsFKA]

@@DavidCurryFilms Each one has its own distinctive sound, though.

[@dannymitchum5]

Get some.. love it..

[@methink7225]

i am a volunteer at the hanger in which this yak is stationed, did you know he flew in an almost completely stock aircraft?

[@trishaobrien5886]

I don't understand where the weapons would go on the aircraft. Did it carry missiles and rockets?

[@deanharris7994]

Two 12.7mms firing through the prop blades above the engine, and a 20mm cannon through the propeller hub. Also had room for a small external bomb load. Traditional air-to-air missiles didn't exist when this aircraft was in active combat.

[@ilyaluv6186]

There were experiments with 82mm and 132mm rockets. I.e Mig-3, Lagg-3, IL-2 and I-16 airplanes had carried 6 to 8 uncontrolled 82 mm air to air/air to land rockets RS-82(РС-82) or 132mm RS-132.

[@Agislife1960]

It definitely has a fast roll rate.

[@whalesong999]

Sweet performing fighter. In production, it was powered with a Klimov engine which had 2.140 cu.in. displacement (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klimov_VK-107) along with derivatives of it. It had a very poor service history. I've seen engineering drawings of the engine and it was crude and lacked qualities that would have made it anywhere near equal to other veteran V-12s of the period.

[@quint2885]

Vk engines usually offered a huge amount of power for their size, just at the cost of having no more than a couple service days before being completely inoperable, they would also often suffer failures mid flight. But they suited the yaks well, since the yaks were quick low altitude defence fighters, they weren't expected to do long missions, they'd just need to take off, shoot down the attacking German planed close to their airfield or escort targets and land again.

[@whalesong999]

Joe - Well, not "huge" power but in the ballpark with the others - ~1200hp - though quite it was quite a bit larger.

[@thethirdman225]

There's always someone out to poo-poo Soviet stuff. The Klimov wasn't nearly that bad and used some engineering that wasn't often found in contemporary engines.

[@whalesong999]

3rdMan - It's not about poo-pooing, it's realistic assessment compared to contemporaries. It would be great of any operating examples were around today but I know of none. As for it's engineering, it was borrowed heavily from the Hispano-Suiza design going back to ww1. Considering the context of the situation in the Soviet Union, it was probably conceived under pressure, with different priorities - and dangers - than in allied countries. I allow for that but the fact there are none I know of being restored for current functional aircraft speaks to it's nature as a not a machine of great integrity..

[@pietroseven8228]

Baletka!

[@FourSeasonsHD]

Aerobatics and intentional spins NOT prohibited.

[@Metalgearmadness]

Too bad that other one got destroyed from them leaving a lift on the runway.

[@TheOhhblind]

Valletta Meme Master it is :(

[@rpurdey]

The other one was a converted post-war Yak-11 trainer with an Allison engine. It will very likely be repaired. This aircraft is a new production aircraft (1993) also with an Allison engine.

[@aviation4lifenz132]

It looks as if he landed wrong place from my photos as the grass runway was reopened and cherry pickers not moved so it must indicate he was in the wrong place

[@thethirdman225]

Which one? There was one that left a runway in Australia and flipped onto its back...?

[@uhohLungJuice]

A blyatiful machine.

[@user-iu6ij3di1i]

СССР the Best!!!

[@davidvance6367]

Дзиро Хорикоси, the best in pussy

[@leskovari940]

What's all this beat up about the Yak-3? When the war ended in 1945 it was the Yak-9 that did all the hard yakka. That is six more versions on.

[@historicalmachines]

Sorry, that is incorrect. The Yak-9 entered service in 1942, while the later (smaller and lighter) Yak-3 entered service in 1944, thus the '9' was not six more versions advanced from the '3'. Don't know how Yakovlev named their series of fighters....

[@coreyandnathanielchartier3749]

Yak fighters were named in the same thinking as the Star Wars movies. Anyways, these fighters could touch 450 mph at medium height, far faster than anything they flew against.

[@Grom0zeka]

Before WWII in USSR was created 3 fighter of new generation: Yak-1, MiG-1(3) and LaGG-1(3). In same time Yak-7UTI was created for pilots training to this new fighters. After the war had started it was urgently redesigned to combat capable Yak-7. Yak-9 is derivative of Yak-7. Yak-3 is derivative of Yak-1 and it superior to any others Yakovlev's fighters of WWII.

[@alexanderreimer387]

My comment on the Clark Y airfoil made it a technological impossibility to compete with the highly modified Mustangs @ 500+ mph...!!!

[@fighterflights6710]

Unless they are pushed hard enough that they blow up first which is sometimes what racing is ALLL about!

[@9.5to1]

When was this taken?

[@TheOhhblind]

Downshifting Kiwi Reno

[@historicalmachines]

As the description of the video says: 'Full Noise' is shown here during a flight at held at Omaka Aerodrome, Blenheim, New Zealand.

[@9.5to1]

when is different to where

[@tuskom4677]

Очень скучное выступление для Як-3 ( Этот самолет мог бы показать больше!

[@user-mm2eh5wk3c]

Скорее всего летчик бзделоват! Но ведь мы ,да и его противники, знаем,что это за боец!

[@user-eq8wq3nt9m]

А это "кошерный" ЯК или макет?

[@101klipper7]

@@user-eq8wq3nt9m Новодел. Из Як-11 переделывают. Ставят Эллисон. Даже вроде с Мерлином есть экземпляр. С 4 х лопостным винтом.

[@kingghidorah8106]

Yak 3 top speed: 740kmh in a straight line. Meanwhile in War Thunder: 560kmh oh fuck I've got a k4 on my six * Dives* *680KMH TOO FAST **_breaks_*

[@germannovoa9056]

At what time were the soviets able to defeat the germans in the air?

[@historicalmachines]

Who said anything about defeat? However, in 1944 Luftwaffe units were told to avoid combat with the Yak-3's in certain circumstances if possible as the Yaks were superior aircraft.

[@MarsFKA]

Below 15,000 feet, the Yak 3 was superior to German single-engine fighters. Some pilots today believe that it was even superior to the Spitfire.

[@germannovoa9056]

MarsFKA yea theres a quote i kinda remember from a german pilot "i hade my throttle full but i still couldnt reach that yakovlev"

[@pierrebroccoli.9396]

From 1943 onwards the Soviets were on par with the Germans with their aircraft. Defeats started gaining ground on the Kuban Front with the Battle of Kursk and associated Air Battles that took place in the Caucases / Kuban area of the Eastern Front. Combination of Aircraft although the Mig 3 was a pre 43 capable Soviet fighter, Tactics which the VVS learned via the hard way and also Radio Comms bing installed in VVS aircraft. Lend lease P39's from the USA also helped and were much appreciated by Soviet pilots.

[@davidvance6367]

Germán Novoaz ,. Around feb.43 German fighters became a rarity. Their planes were used in n.africa & France against the more experienced allied fighters. Hitler did understand fighter planes,. He didn't realize the power of fighter cover. After Stalingrad, Hitler knew then that the fighter was important in land battles. Such as the sniper rifles used in staligrade.

[@michelleroberts5472]

Not destroyed needs a wing rebuild

[@9.5to1]

its pretty bad

[@MarsFKA]

And an engine strip and overhaul. The engine stopped very suddenly when the propellor hit the ground, which usually causes damage to internal components.

[@clayvillanueva2128]

Agile ....its the best...no doubt about it....Whit aircraft is BADASSSH....GARBAGE.

[@alexanderreimer387]

To almost win the GOLD at Reno... you’d have to be topping 500 mph on the back straight... 100 mph faster than that airfoil section is capable of... plug L/D data into your computer for a Clark Y airfoil and you will discover 500 mph is impossible to achieve...!!!

[@historicalmachines]

Plainly you don't realise that New Zealanders are renown for attempting the 'impossible' (and sometimes achieving it) :-)

[@thethirdman225]

Been a long time since anyone topped "500 mph on the back straight", as you put it.

[@ThePieMinister]

Impossible I think not...Hinton jnr flew his highly-modified P-51 Mustang 'Voodoo' at an average speed of 531.53mph

[@thethirdman225]

EvilPieMan Could you please provide either a speed trap reading or some official record? It’s not that I don’t believe it; I’m just naturally distrustful of anything I read on them interwebs. The problem is that that is substantially faster than the Rare Bear and with the aerodynamic considerations involved, I’m naturally cautious.

[@thethirdman225]

EvilPieMan On second thoughts, don’t worry. I didn’t know Rare Bear’s record had been broken.

[@muskepticsometimes9133]

Wow still has Russian engine?!

[@historicalmachines]

No - running an Allison v-12 I believe.

[@muskepticsometimes9133]

@@historicalmachines thanks sounds easier to maintain

[@blackpowder4016]

@@muskepticsometimes9133 Much more reliable than the original Klimov 105/107/108 engines. The Allison could also run counter-clockwise to accommodate the surplus left-hand props they had in stock when they started making Yak 3s and 9s again in 1991.

[@user-bz3jh2jd3v]

1

[@user-mn7vg7vl2t]

В России днём с огнём не найдёшь шоу с як-3 ,все продали ,и сами туда уехали.

[@orgcoast]

Sounds like a Rolls Merlin.

[@PropperJ]

Not Merlin,Allison power

[@thethirdman225]

I like it a bit better.

[@MarsFKA]

I've been to the last two Classic Fighters Omaka air shows and have heard both Merlins and Allisons. Each make of engine has a distinctive sound that is different to the sound of the other.

[@kevomorego1211]

What on Earth do you mean by 'Almost nailed it' for goodness' sake use proper English.

[@jeffrotullstein]

The soviets made great strides in airplane development from 1939 to 1945 - because they had to. The YAK-3 is a beautiful airplane and in my opinion is a blended design copy of a Spitfire and a P-51 and why not. They have combined the best of both using the P-51's belly radiator and the spitfire's eliptical wing into a smaller, lighter aircraft - when lead is already firing there is little time to re-invent the wheel or wing if you like.

[@MarsFKA]

There is nothing elliptical about the Yak's wing and taking a little further your claim that they copied the P51's belly radiator, would it be fair to say that the P51 belly radiator was a copy of the Hurricane's?

[@jeffrotullstein]

@@MarsFKA What's fair to say is what I offered was an "opinion" ... based on all the tests and exams I've written in my lifetime I'd say that my opinion is likely 85-90% correct - I never scored 100%. Having said that, there was no colaboration between British design and US designs (Hurricane rad scoop Vs P51) prior to WWII - the Brits did show the US a few things later on, i.e, the Merlin Engine and how to land an F4U Corsair on an Aircraft Carrier. Further the difference between a Tapered Wing and Eliptical Wing is two straight lines versus two slightly arcing lines on the leading and trailing edges - a tapered wing will fit inside the outline of an eliptical wing - anyone who looks at an eliptical wing goes "wow that's beautiful" - a production specialist says "yeah but it's a pain to manufacture". Both the Spitfire and the P51 pre-date the YAK-3 by about 3 years. Russia was technologically inferior to all the major players of WWII at the time they were invaded by Germany; they were under-equipped with everything from small arms to fighter aircraft and thus were supplied by both the US and the Brits with surplus fighters. I'm not saying they absolutely "copied" / "combined" the Spitfire and the P51 but I would be very surprised if they did not - they certainly would have known about both. Don't forget the fact that Russia did 100% copy the B29 Superfortress after WWII was over. Of course everything I just said could be 10-15% rubbish.

[@leneanderthalien]

nothing common with Spitfire of Mustang, but some analogies with french fighters (radiator from the Dewoitine D520, engine Klimov 105 is still a evolution from the same aircraft's engine (Hispano Suiza y12), same 20mm Hispano canon, same high agility design but much more advanced...

[@tubeescort]

@@jeffrotullstein You should change your opinion about your own opinion - it's certainly 85-90% incorrect. There were no colaboration between Soviet design and Brit-US designs either. The majority of propelled aircraft with liquid-cooled engines had belly radiators - to refer on such a minor thing can only a person with a poor technical knowledge. The Spitfire and the P51 do not pre-date YAK-3 since YAK-3 was developed from YAK-1 (first flight in 1939) which in its turn was based on Yakovlev's earlier designs of sport and training aircrafts (AIR 1, 3, 5, 7, 10 & UT-1&2). About your humiliating comment about technological inferiority of prewar Russia - well, only two prewar players were able to develop and mass produced semi-automatic battle rifle: USA (M1 Garand) and USSR (SVT-40). Also Russia before WWII came up with weapons being unrivaled throughout the world - Katyusha multiple rocket launcher, for example.And they were not under-equipped with everything from small arms to fighter aircraft - it's a later Cold War mythology. Supplied fighters from Brits and US were very seldom surplus. Most of the time they were inferior and used behind the lines (except P-39 and B-25). Their supplies started in 1942 already after the critical Battle for Moscow.

[@worker999alltime3]

ME-109 was BETTER till the end WW2. Ace of Aces (FOREVER)- had fight on it till 8 of May 1945! -352 wins! Erich Hartman! Germany! Died in his bed in the 1993.

[@tubeescort]

These wins are bullshit. They only mean how many times he attemted to attack enemy aircrafts.

[@joaocassianodafonsecajunio1426]

Clone american p51 mustang.

[@vintageflanker7096]

What do you mean? YAK-3 is based on Yak-1, which started to fly in 1940...

[@user-eq8wq3nt9m]

Если не разбираешься в авиатехнике,то зачем пишешь?Ничего общего с Мустангом...

[@leneanderthalien]

@@vintageflanker7096 yes and the Klimov engines are evolutions from the french Hispano Suiza Y12...

[@tubeescort]

@@leneanderthalien have you not tired to write it everywhere? Majority of technical productions started from licensed coping other succesful designs.