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NEW ZEALANDS ONLY WW2 FIGHTER EXPERIENCE

WINGS OF HISTORY
Full Noise Yak 3 fighter plane from Fighter Flights in Marlborough, New Zealand

The History of Full Noise

HISTORY OF FULL NOISE - TIMELINE

The origins of the Yak-3 design can be traced to designer Alexander Yakovlev realising in 1942 that the promised higher horsepower V-12s were not going to become available within a reasonable timeframe. What resulted was the most outstanding fighter to come out of the Yakovlev design bureau during WW II.

Yakovlev decided the best option was to use the reliable VK-105 engine and remove as much weight and drag out of the proven Yak-1 design as possible.

A new clean sheet wing design with span reduced to 9.2 m and duralumin spars was used and the oil cooler was moved from under the nose to the wing centre section. A cut down rear deck featuring a bubble canopy further reduced weight.

When engine designer Victor Klimov was convinced to allow an increase in supercharger boost on his engine the Yak-3 had reached its full potential.

Statement by Luftwaffe Lt General Walter Schwabedissen
"Whereas the German Bf 109 G and Fw 190 models were equal to any Soviet models in all respects, this cannot be said of the Soviet Yak-3, which made its first appearance at the front in the late summer of 1944. This plane was faster, more manoeuvrable and had a better rate of climb than the German Bf 109 G and Fw 190, to which it was inferior only as regards armament".

1940

1940 - Yak 1 design first flight

Yak 1

1940 - Yak 1 design first flight

1940

1943

1943 - Yak-1 M design to remove weight and drag as promised higher horsepower engines are still unreliable.


1943 - Alexander Yakovlev is not completely satisfied and starts a new wing design with a clean sheet of paper. This is designated Yak-3. The aircraft features a wooden wing with an aluminium main spar and a steel tube fuselage with plywood and fabric covering. The aircraft performs better than expected.

1943

Yak-1 M design

1943 - Yak-1 M design to remove weight and drag as promised higher horsepower engines are still unreliable.


1943 - Alexander Yakovlev is not completely satisfied and starts a new wing design with a clean sheet of paper. This is designated Yak-3. The aircraft features a wooden wing with an aluminium main spar and a steel tube fuselage with plywood and fabric covering. The aircraft performs better than expected.

1944

1944 - In late summer the Yak-3 first appears over the Eastern front and quickly gains a reputation for high performance in combat, reliability and ease of maintenance. It is loved by groundcrew and pilots alike and gains the nickname Ubiytsa (killer).


1944 - Dec. Featuring an experimental VK-108 engine rated at 1850 Hp the Yak-3 achieves 463 mph during testing.

Yak-3

1944 - In late summer the Yak-3 first appears over the Eastern front and quickly gains a reputation for high performance in combat, reliability and ease of maintenance. It is loved by groundcrew and pilots alike and gains the nickname Ubiytsa (killer).


1944 - Dec. Featuring an experimental VK-108 engine rated at 1850 Hp the Yak-3 achieves 463 mph during testing.

1944

1945

1945 - With more aluminium available the aircraft is built with an all metal wing.

1945

Yak-3 metal wing

1945 - With more aluminium available the aircraft is built with an all metal wing.

1946

1946 - After capturing German jet engines the Yak-3 fuselage is mounted on top of a Juno 004 jet engine from a Me 262. It achieves 491 mph in level flight.

1946 - production ceases with 4848 aircraft produced


1946 - Yakovlev uses the wing and tail group of the Yak-3 in a new trainer design designated Yak-11. These aircraft become a rich source of parts for future Yak-3 builds and restorations.

Yak-3

1946 - After capturing German jet engines the Yak-3 fuselage is mounted on top of a Juno 004 jet engine from a Me 262. It achieves 491 mph in level flight.

1946

Yak-11

1946 - Production ceases with 4848 aircraft produced
1946 - Yakovlev uses the wing and tail group of the Yak-3 in a new trainer design designated Yak-11. These aircraft become a rich source of parts for future Yak-3 builds and restorations.


1990

1990 - After the iron curtain comes down Russian business is in need of foreign investment. A glaring omission in the Warbird world is identified by the Yakovlev design bureau. There are no Russian aircraft of the Great Patriotic War flying in modern times. The design bureau discover the original drawings, jigs and design information for the Yak-3.

1990

1990 - After the iron curtain comes down Russian business is in need of foreign investment. A glaring omission in the Warbird world is identified by the Yakovlev design bureau. There are no Russian aircraft of the Great Patriotic War flying in modern times. The design bureau discover the original drawings, jigs and design information for the Yak-3.

1992

1992 - Flight Magic of Santa Monica California is approached and a deal is brokered for Yakovlev to design and build 20 new airframes. They feature an American Allison engine and DC-3 prop as no Russian equivalent is available.

American Allison Engine in a Yak-3

1992 - Flight Magic of Santa Monica California is approached and a deal is brokered for Yakovlev to design and build 20 new airframes. They feature an American Allison engine and DC-3 prop as no Russian equivalent is available.




1992

1995

1995 - Yak-3 is sold to Bill Destefani, the owner and pilot of the Reno race Mustang Strega.

1995

1995 - Yak-3 is sold to Bill Destefani, the owner and pilot of the Reno race Mustang Strega.

1996

1996 - Pilot Sherman Smoot flys the Yak at the Reno Air Races. He averages 324 mph in one race but fails to finish the week.

Yak at Reno Races

1996 - Pilot Sherman Smoot flys the Yak at the Reno Air Races. He averages 324 mph in one race but fails to finish the week.

1996

1997

1997 - Bill Nezgoda buys the Yak.

1997

Yak-3

1997 - Bill Nezgoda buys the Yak.




1999

1999 - Nezgoda crashes on take-off at the Reno Air Races when attempting to qualify. He survives relatively unscathed.

Yak-3 at Reno Air Races

1999 - Nezgoda crashes on take-off at the Reno Air Races when attempting to qualify. He survives relatively unscathed.

1999

2000

2000 - Chris Prevost and Dan Vance buy the wreck and replace the original wing with that of an Egyptian Air Force Yak-11.

2000

2000 - Chris Prevost and Dan Vance buy the project and replace the original wing with that of an Egyptian Air Force Yak-11.

2004

2004 - Graeme Frew buys the project and in November it arrives at Omaka.

Yak-3 at Omaka

2004 - Graeme Frew buys the project and in November it arrives at Omaka.

2004

2009

2009 - Jay McIntyre and his team at JEM Aviation commence a full time restoration and incorporate a second seat at the owners request.

2009

Yak-3 Restoration

2009 - Jay McIntyre and his team at JEM Aviation commence a full restoration and incorporate a second seat at the owners request.

2012

2012 - March 26 First post flight restoration in the hands of Frank Parker.

First Flight of full noise yak-3

2012 - March 26 First post flight restoration in the hands of Frank Parker.

2012

2017

2017 - Fighter Flights Ltd is formed to operate the Yak-3 for joyrides. We have since shared the experience and thrill of flying in one of the best handling and performing fighter aircraft of WW II with 100s of happy customers.

2017

Joyrides in Yak-3 Full Noise in Marlborough NZ

2017 - Fighter Flights Ltd is formed to operate the Yak-3 for joyrides. We have since shared the experience and thrill of flying in one of the best handling and performing fighter aircraft of WW II with 100s of happy customers.

2017

2017 - Our Yak-3 is christened Full Noise and shipped to California for fitment of a Joe Yancey built and sponsored 2000 hp engine. Full Noise competes at the Reno Air Races as the first ever Kiwi team to race. Unfortunately the race engine doesn’t work out but after an all night engine change FN makes the Gold final on the stock engine.

Yak-3 Full Noise in Marlborough NZ

2017 - Our Yak-3 is christened Full Noise and shipped to California for fitment of a Joe Yancey built and sponsored 2000 hp engine. Full Noise competes at the Reno Air Races as the first ever Kiwi team to race. Unfortunately the race engine doesn’t work out but after an all night engine change FN makes the Gold final on the stock engine.

2017

2018

2018 - Team Full Noise again makes the trip to race at Reno. The Yak qualifies 6th at 362 mph and runs in the Gold all week.

2018

Team Full Noise at the Reno Air Races 2018

2018 - Team Full Noise again makes the trip to race at Reno. The Yak qualifies 6th at 362 mph and runs in the Gold all week.

2020

2020 - Full Noise travels to Oreti Beach in Invercargill to try at a NZ 3 km speed record. On the 23rd of Feb she successfully speeds across the beach for an average of 559 km/hr over four passes setting a NZ record.

2024

Celebrating 20 years in NZ Aviation

2024 - Full Noise Celebrates 20 years in NZ aviation.

Yak-3 Full Noise at Oreti Beach Speed Record

2020 - Full Noise travels to Oreti Beach in Invercargill to try at a NZ 3 km speed record. On the 23rd of Feb she successfully speeds across the beach for an average of 559 km/hr over four passes setting a NZ record.

2020

2024

Celebrating 20 years in NZ Aviation

2024 - Full Noise Celebrates 20 years in NZ aviation.

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