Sad news: Yak-9UM VH-YIX crashed fatally in Australia

[lmritger]

The pilot was killed in the impact, and there was no post-crash fire. There is no word yet on the identity of the pilot or a preliminary cause of the crash; my thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-07/pilot-dies-in-gippsland-light-plane-crash/10214846

Lynn

[therealJR]

I see where the aircraft had a fairly significant accident three years ago - almost to the day. Can anyone enlighten us as to this model Yak?

[DH82EH]

$hitty!

My sincere condolences to family and friends of the pilot.

Andy

[JohnTerrell]

Can anyone enlighten us as to this model Yak?

This aircraft was one of the 10 new production Yak-9's (in addition to 12 new production Yak-3's) that were manufactured by the Yakovlev company in the 1990's, powered with Allison engines. As I understand it, the Yak-9 was a development on the Yak-7, where as the Yak-3 (which looks very similar to the Yak-9) was a development on the Yak-1. The Yak-3 was a lighter, shorter-range aircraft than the later built Yak-9, and the -9 features a wing with more surface area than that of the Yak-3. The fuselage design differs in areas, including the location of the cockpit as I recall, and the armament is different. It is said that with the greater surface area of the wing, the Yak-9 could out-turn a Yak-3, but the Yak-3 has a greater roll rate than the Yak-9. The Yak-9 was generally not as nimble as the Yak-3, but it had greater range.

Absolutely terrible news today with the loss of the pilot in the crash in Australia, and deepest condolences to the pilot's family and friends.

[Mark Allen M]

Very sad news. Rest In Peace

[marine air]

Never had it explained that way. Thanks. So I guess if one were to build up a Yak 11 trainer it would have the short wing and therefore have to be called a "YAK 3." Hate for the loss of the pilot and aircraft. Maybe something can be learned frim the accident report.

[Brenden S]

I have heard locally that the owner was doing aerobatics and simply ran out of height while pulling out of a loop.
RIP cobber.

[LysanderUK]

This is terribly sad news, sincere condolences to the family, friends and everyone associated with the aircraft.

[Invader26]

Very sad...

A recent report via an eyewitness suggest he has doing a series of Cuban Eights and lost it on the last pull-out straight into slightly rising terrain.