The Yak-3 - a little hot rod of a fighter.

First flown in Oct 1943, the Yak-3 was a simple and lightweight design but is credited with being Russia's fastest and most manoeuvrable piston-powered design. Around 70 were received by Yugoslavia by the end of 1945, some being involved in action over post-war border violations. In August 1945 two US C-47s were shot down by Yak-3s, then in October an RAF one was forced to land at Niš. Only three original Yak-3s remain, of which this example retired from instructional use in 1957 is one