Serial 470110 (ex-N20669 “Red Heat”)

This airplane has a very interesting history. The plane is stored at MeierMotors since summer 2006. MeierMotors overhauled the dismanteld plane and gave it a new finish in the new yard at the Bremgarten airfield. The new owner of this fantastic, in Germany registered twinseater, is now Mikael Wikström. The german registration is D-FAFL.

Lets turn back times  .... we write the year 2002 and find ourselves in Bruce Lockwood´s shop (Mojave Airport). The Yak-3 with the serial 470110 was stored there. Bruce Lockwood is a two time Reno-winner and was one of the pilots of the famous race-plane P-51 Dago Red. Bruce Lockwood went through the plane to “americanize” is. He took the plane completly apart, buildt in C-47 oil-coolers, in fact the whole cooling construction was improved. Bruce said that the cooling-system is now about 30% more effective. Also the plane was completely new wired. Bruce Lockwood decided to build in a second seat and dual controls. After that, a new canopy has to be made for this bird, a bubble canopy in one piece. This canopy should slide straight back to give easy access to both seats. As you can see, that canopy is very beautiful and gave the plane a new shape.

In June 2002 Skip Holm took the controls for the test flights. Skip Holm is also a pilot of the DagoRed, performing the famous 5oomp/h round in Reno. Skip Holm, a very experienced pilot was very impressed about the performance and said about this Yak “This airplane will smoke a Mustang”. He equated the Yak-3 with the Grumman F8F Bearcat. In summer 2002 also Bruce Lockwood flew that plane and he was enthusiasted too “Wow, this thing is like a Bearcat” and said “This is a HotRod for airshows”.
Art Nall (a Marines Harrier Pilot and famous airshowpilot) obtained the rednosed aircraft and flew it for several years on airshows.  

This particular Yakovley is really a special plane and an odd piece of aviation. Mikael we wish you fantastic flights with this unique beautiful plane  !