In the office all day. After work went to a lecture at the new Waikato University campus in town. It was held by the local branch of Engineering New Zealand, my professional body. Graeme Frew spoke, he has raced his unlimited class Yak-3 at the Reno Air Races in 2017 and 2018.
In the early 1990's, following the discovery of original engineering drawings and jigs from late model Yak 3 production, twenty aircraft were built to the original design but utilized modern materials. Various engine types were considered including the original Russian V-12 Klimovs and the RR Merlin before the builders settled on the V1710 series Allison. This engine was selected because it was very close in power, weight and external dimensions to the extremely rare Klimov.
Graeme's Yak 3 was first registered to well known Reno race pilot Tiger Destefani in 1996 before being sold on later in the year. The aircraft was raced at Reno a number of times but unfortunately it was crashed on take off at Reno in 1999. Luckily the owner though injured made a full recovery, testimony to the strength of the design.
Graeme purchased the aircraft as a project in 2004 and had it shipped to Omaka Airfield at Blenheim. A full overhaul of the airframe and engine and all systems was completed by Jay McIntyre's JEM Aviation over a four year period. During the rebuild a second seat was incorporated under it’s own sliding canopy so that the experience of flying in this high performance fighter could be shared. The Yak first flew again in March 2012 and a week later débuted at Warbirds over Wanaka.
In 2017 raced as a rookie winning the bronze race, then the silver race to race in the Gold Final, finishing seventh. They went back in 2018, having the aircraft delivered to the pits in Reno in a 40' container. They spent 12 days assembling it, raced coming seventh again in the Gold Final, disassembled it and shipped it back to NZ.
If you have a couple of grand you can go for a ride in it.
http://fighterflights.co.nz/warbird-flight-options/ Edit: The 35 race number is in honor of
Burt Munro a New Zealand motorcycle racer, famous for setting an under-1,000 cc world record, at Bonneville, 26 August 1967
