The Yakovlevs

The Yakovlevs were a British civilian formation aerobatic display team renowned for close precision routines and flowing aerobatics. Operating from Henstridge Airfield, Somerset, the team typically flew two, four or up to six aircraft at shows in the UK, Europe and beyond.

They flew authentic Soviet-era aerobatic types—the single-seat Yak-50 and tandem two-seat Yak-52—and also pioneered UK Skytyping aerial messaging, partnering with Skytypers to write dot-matrix messages high overhead.

Team leadership was provided by Jez Hopkinson FRAeS, with pilots drawn from civilian and former military backgrounds, including ex-Red Arrows and test pilots. Appearances in China and India broadened their global profile, including the “Weico Yak Display Team” branding for Chinese engagements.

Types & roles. The Yak-50 is a single-seat Unlimited aerobatic machine; the Yak-52 is a robust two-seat primary trainer derived from the Yak-50. Both use the nine-cylinder Vedeneyev M14P radial (~360 hp).

Construction & systems. All-metal airframes with pneumatic systems (gear, flaps, brakes) and inverted-systems enabling the Yak-52 to sustain ~2 minutes inverted. Typical g-limits: Yak-52 about +7/−5 g; Yak-50 around +9/−6 g.

Performance notes. The Yak-52’s roll rate exceeds 180°/s (measured substantially higher in some directions) and both types excel at formation and opposition aerobatics. Team aircraft carried smoke and dedicated Skytyping hardware for large-scale aerial messages.

The Yakovlevs were formed in December 1999 under owner and leader Jez Hopkinson, flying their first full airshow season in 2000. The team grew a fleet of Yak-50s and Yak-52s (roughly ten airframes owned at peak) and displayed widely across Europe and Asia.

In late 2022 they announced that 2023 would be the final display season after ~25 years and over 2,000 displays. On 15 March 2023, ahead of the season, the team confirmed they were ceasing flying with immediate effect.

Alongside formation aerobatics, the team introduced Skytyping to UK audiences—delivering the UK’s first such display during the VE Day 75 commemorations in May 2020—and performed internationally as the “Weico Yak Display Team” in China.

• The team’s home was Henstridge Airfield in Somerset, with purpose-built facilities.
• They typically displayed with up to six aircraft, mixing Yak-50s and Yak-52s.
• They delivered the UK’s first Skytyping display on VE Day 2020.
• By closure they’d flown roughly 2,300 displays across 14 countries, covering about 200,000 nm in formation.
• In Chinese engagements the team were billed as the “Weico Yak Display Team.”