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.

On 27 August 2005, Yakovlev YAK-52 RA-3326K was photographed at the static of the Airshow Eelde 2005 at Groningen Airport Eelde in the Netherlands. The 1987-built Yakovlev Yak-52 RA-3326K (ex LY-AQC; 13/yellow DOSAAF) was used at that time by the Yakkes Foundation.

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