Soko 522 Warbird in South Africa

[Bearcat SA]

A Soko 522 has arrived in a container at my local Airport (Rand Airport, Germiston, South Africa)
I must admit that I would never have expected to see one of these here
Does anyone know how these craft perform ? ... Better or worse than a Harvard ?
Also, how many of these are still around in flying condition ?
Pic taken by a friend who is ok with me reposting.

[Stoney]

I have heard that because of the shorter wing, it lands faster then the T-6, almost bought one once in 1985, but someone beat me to it.

[soko121]

I owned 121 for a few years, i really like the plane. While is is a US engine and prop, the rest is pure Eastern Bloc. The Soko flys very well, it is well balanced on the controls and very responsive. The only thing it needs is more horse power. It is a higher wing loading than the T-6 and flys accordingly, there is very little warning when the airflow decides that it is not going to stay attached to the wing , and it departs rather rapidly if provoked. Not an aeroplane to lean in !. The rudder is slightly small , take off starts with full right rudder and gentle power application, as speed builds, rudder can be reduced. Too much power too quick and you will drift left. The hydraulic system is for the gear and flaps. One must be completed before the other can be cycled or nothing happens, I preferred an overhead approach with a midfield break, gear out ( handle back to neutral once down), then flaps down (either up or down, no partial detent, but you could cycle the handle back to neutral to segment the extension) and a curving approach no slower than 95mph until committed, the flap is a single center section only piece that does not do much for lift , and with a high wing loading, the Soko is not a short field plane.
Would love to have another one, there are a total of 3 flyable in the world , 2 here in the US, ( 121, 210) and one in France. There is one more project here in the US, several in the former Yugoslavia, one of which is being built to fly, and your friends plane.
Great plane !

[soko121]

I forgot to add a picture
Simon

[Bearcat SA]

Fantastic Soko 121
Being such a rare bird I did not have high hopes for a response .. the internet/Wix are amazing !

The new owner already owns several warbirds including a P-51, T6 Harvard, Yak, L39, L29 ETC ....so not new to warbirds but your insight is very valuable and I will pass the details on to him. Interesting that it needs more horsepower .. because Rand Airport is hot and high ..often circa 26C to 32C and its at 5400ft so will have to watch DA.

I dont have details yet as to which Soko 522 this one is but will probably get to see it tomorrow.

Certainly a rare warbird that I look forward to seeing in the air ...and flying in

[soko121]

I know the plane you have, had spoken with the previous owner several times. My only recommendation of a "must do" is to replace the wheels and brakes with T-28 parts. The stock brakes and tires were weak at best.
If i can be of any assistance, let me know
Simon

[Stoney]

I use to have some info on it, but think I gave it to Bud Granley years ago when he had one.

[Bearcat SA]

I did not get to see it today but I noted that there are some pics on the web with the wings folded
Is this just a storage thing?

[Jerry O'Neill]

Weren't they used as American aircraft in "Kelly's Heroes"?

[soko121]

Yes the Soko was used in Kelly's Heros, also a few other movies, most notably a Yugo film " Partizanza Escadilla" or similar spelling. i have the movie, its all in Yugoslavian, they crash land a few 522's in the movie. It is easy to get one gear to extend using the emergency extension, so it made for good TV to do a "one wheel" landing.
The wings fold for storage. There is a panel under the leading edge of the wing just outboard of the gear, when you open that panel, i warning flag sticks out the top of the wing. you reach in, unlock the wing pins for the lower spar fitting, then manually (using 3-4 people) push the wing vertical, then screw in the jury strut that holds the wing to the fuselage. Quite a cumbersome set up, not sure why it was designed this way.
Simon

[Chris Brame]

That was Partizanska Eskadrila, aka Battle of the Eagles, from 1979. Watch the whole movie here (but no subtitles):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jz9ot2zs8Is
IMDb page (read the reviews; looks like the filmmakers played a little fast and loose with the facts):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078832/reviews?ref_=tt_urv

[Bearcat SA]

Finally managed to get to see the Soko 522 at Rand Airport today.
Still dont know which one it is as I could not find a data plate.. but no doubt someone on WIX will be able to help.
It looks to be one of those 90% complete projects and in good condition ... lets hope the final 10% does not take 90% of the time !!

[Bearcat SA]

Soko 522 at Rand Airport (FAGM) 22 Feb 2014