The Yakovlev Yak-52 is a two-seater tandem low wing civil and military aerobatic trainer aircraft with semi-retractable tricycled landinggear. Development of the Yakovlev Yak-52, originally known Yak-50U, started in 1973 as a successor of the Yakovlev Yak-18 training aircraft. The Yakovlev 52 was designed by the Yakovlev Design Bureau as a trainer version of the single-seat Yak-50. The prototype was flown first in 1974. Production was initiated in 1976 at the Intreprinderea de Avioane Bacau factory in Bacau, Romania and production of the Yak-52 started in 1977. The Romanian prototype Yak-52 was flown first in May 1978 and deliveries started the same year. The IAK-52 airplane is equipped with a 360 hp Ivchenko Vedeneyev M-14P nine cylinder, air-cooled radial piston engine. The 400 hp M14PF can also be fitted. The Yak-52 was used in the Soviet Union as a basic military trainer as well as primary and advanced aerobatic trainer. A vast majority is in use with the Russian DOSAAF Clubs. The I.Av. Bacau was renamed Aerostar S.A. in 1991. Over 1800 have been produced to date starting with series-production in 1979. At the peak of production 150 aircraft were manufactured per year. Aerostar in Bacau, Romania is still producing the Yak-52 in limited numbers on request. The present Models are the Yak-52W, an upgraded derivative with Western instruments, radio, electrical etc. and the tail wheel version Yak-52TW.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Yakovlev Yak-52 is YK52.

On 26 August 2005, the UK-aerobatics formation Aerostars visited Hoogeveen airfield (EHHO) on their way from the UK to Norway. Aerostars is the largest civilian formation aerobatic team in the world and is equipped with Yakovlev YAK-50 and Yak-52 aeroplanes. Yakovlev Yak-52 G-CBLJ (ex RA-44472) was built in 1988.

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