Russian airframer Irkut has performed the first flight of its new Yakolev Yak-152 basic trainer.

Flown by experimental test pilot Vasily Sevastyanov, the maiden sortie took place on 29 September from the manufacturer’s Irkutsk facility in the far east of the country. "The flight mission is done completely, the aircraft performed well,” says Sevastyanov.

Serial production of the trainer is already under way, the airframer /confirm/is.

The Yak-152 is powered by a diesel-fuelled, German-built RED Aircraft A03 piston engine which is rated at 500shp (368kW).

Russia’s air force has placed a provisional order for 150 aircraft to replac its fleet of Yak-52 trainers.