Seagull Yak 52 review - J Perkins

PRODUCT REVIEWdown elevator to compensate for it.The Yak-52 stalls at a fairly low speed, but when it stalls italways drops a wing (the left one) and it does it quite violently. Itis something worth experimenting with at height to becomefamiliar with it.It will stall at a lower speed with the flaps down but the wing willstill drop; it just does it a little more gently.Just for fun, we deliberately stopped the engine (in flight) to seehow it would handle a dead-stick situation; this was done a fewtimes with varying degrees of flap to see how it would behave.The Yak-52 will glide quite well but don’t expect it to win anygliding endurance records. There is plenty of drag on the front ofthis aeroplane, so when the engine stops, it is best to startplanning a landing straightaway.Basically, in a dead-stick situation, it is best to ‘fly it’ down andcome in with some excess speed rather than try to ‘float’ downto the ground. The excess speed is then bled off with theelevators at the flair-out and it all settles onto the ground nicely.Landing with the engine running is clearly more desirable, and itcan be brought in quite safely with full flaps deployed and anotch or two of throttle to keep the speed up. The throttle isreduced to a pop-pop-pop idle just before flaring out… nice!'The Yak-52 stalls at a fairlylow speed’In ConclusionThis is a model that certainly looks the part and performs quitewell. It can do all the usual aerobatics that would be expected ofa scale type model and it does them with a good degree ofaccuracy. As a bonus, it can handle breezy weather.After about three hours of flying time, the only thing that hasfailed is one of the landing lights… which has gone dim. Also, apiece of thin plastic trim (the oil cooler) has split. But then I cancope with that, as it doesn’t deter from the great flying. RCMWSPECIFICATIONINFORMATIONName: Yak-52 (5500072)Manufacturer: Seagull ModelsDistributor: J Perkins (Distribution) LtdModel Type: Sport-scale ARTFEngine: .61-.91 two-stroke or .90-1.20 cu.in. fourstroke.Can also be used with brushlesselectric motorsTest Engine: DLE 20 cc petrolProp used: APC 15" x 8"Construction: ARTF: Balsa and plywood; pre-printedOracover film coveringR/C FUNCTIONSRadio required: 6 channels with 8 servos1: Ailerons (2x Futaba S9001)2: Elevator (Ace R/C S1087MG)3: Throttle (Futaba S3001)4: Rudder (Futaba S3001)5: Mechanical RetractingUndercarriage (Hitec HS-7588)6: Flaps (2x Futaba S3001)SPEC.Wingspan:Wing Loading:Wing Area:Length:Flying Weight:63½" (1610 mm)33 oz/sq ft690 sq in52" (1320 mm)10 lb 8 ozContactJ Perkins (Distribution) Ltdwww.jperkinsdistribution.co.ukTel: 01622 854300TESTDislikesBrittle plasticmouldingsProjectingundercarriagemountingLikesScale looksSuperb finishEase of assemblyFlying qualitiesAlmost there; a perfect touchdownWWW.RCMODELWORLD.COM JUNE 2011 79