War Bird Identification Help: I was out shooting wildlife images when I spotted these two aircraft in the distance. The trailing aircraft is a Navy F4U Corsair, but I'm puzzled by the...

promfh Loc: Redwood City, CA, USA

I was out shooting wildlife images when I spotted these two aircraft in the distance. The trailing aircraft is a Navy F4U Corsair, but I'm puzzled by the leading plane. The shape made me think of a P51 Mustang but the markings seem to indicate one of the Communist countries from the Cold War era.

Your Expert (and non-Expert) opinions are solicited and appreciated.

Drbobcameraguy Loc: Eaton Ohio

promfh wrote:

I was out shooting wildlife images when I spotted these two aircraft in the distance. The trailing aircraft is a Navy F4U Corsair, but I'm puzzled by the leading plane. The shape made me think of a P51 Mustang but the markings seem to indicate one of the Communist countries from the Cold War era.

Your Expert (and non-Expert) opinions are solicited and appreciated.

I belive its a variant of one of the Yak aircraft. The Yak 15 was a 2 seater. I'll try to look further. Upin further examination they are the same aircraft. Niether is a corsair. They have a gull style wing.

promfh Loc: Redwood City, CA, USA

Looking much closer I can see you are correct about the wing structure. I let the color and markings lead me down the garden path on that one. Thanks for the help. =;)

Chout Loc: Central Texas

Yak-15 was a jet. Markings look WWII Soviet Air Force. The back one looks like USN markings. And looking carefully, they seem to be the same type of aircraft.

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

promfh wrote:

I was out shooting wildlife images when I spotted these two aircraft in the distance. The trailing aircraft is a Navy F4U Corsair, but I'm puzzled by the leading plane. The shape made me think of a P51 Mustang but the markings seem to indicate one of the Communist countries from the Cold War era.

Your Expert (and non-Expert) opinions are solicited and appreciated.

Don't know, but certainly beautiful shots

rlscholl Loc: California

Good question. They have some similarities to the YAK-3, but are not (they appear to have radial engines, but YAK3s generally did not- perhaps some sort of variation or copy?)

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

rlscholl wrote:

Good question. They have some similarities to the YAK-3, but are not (they appear to have radial engines, but YAK3s generally did not- perhaps some sort of variation or copy?)

The Yak 3U had a radial - I looked it up. But plane looks kind of slender, maybe a lightweight trainer??? Or some Warsaw Pact copy that the owner chose to paint this way.

Don W-37 Loc: Bangkok, Thailand

I doubt they have radial engines; the cowling doesn't look big enough. But without a down load, it's hard to say.
Cheers
Don

nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma

Certainly Russian Yakovlevs. Both have single bubble-type canopies. Possibly YAK-50s, more likely they are YAK-3s, which had 3-bladed props. The CAF has several 3s.

Tinker

Yak-50. Nothing else looks close. The Yak=3 is an entirely different airplane.

Abo

Tinker wrote:

Yak-50. Nothing else looks close. The Yak=3 is an entirely different airplane.

cpl3 Loc: Spokane, WA

These are both Yak-50s. The forward aircraft bearing the soviet area paint scheme with the following aircraft painted in the WWII era Navy F-4U Corsair paint scheme - both likely painted for commercial reasons such as air shows, etc...

ORpilot Loc: Prineville, Or

Yes they are a Yak attack.

Amielee Loc: Eastern Washington State

YAK 1. WWII Soviet fighter, 1940 model.. Good fighter.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

nospambob wrote:

Certainly Russian Yakovlevs. Both have single bubble-type canopies. Possibly YAK-50s, more likely they are YAK-3s, which had 3-bladed props. The CAF has several 3s.

I agree!