The first of the off season Spotlights I will be running throughout the winter months, highlighting special and memorable moments across the 2026 display season. Todays will be on Duxford based display team, The Flying Comrades.
The Comrades
Formed in 2021 by the trio of Phil Hardisty, Alex Lewton and Tom Turner, The Flying Comrades operate former Soviet training aircraft with Phil at the stick of the lead Yak-18T, flanked by Alex and Tom in a pair of Yak-52 aircraft. An unusual sight, not just for the use of the Soviet built aircraft but also being a team with a mixed aircraft formation.
There’s also a wealth of experience and knowledge within the team that all contributes to what we get to view. With Phil and Alex experienced commercial airline pilots and Tom the Head of Airfield services at IWM Duxford, you get a real sense that the three of them enjoy every second of displaying together, whether it be in the Yaks, or as we have also been this year the de Havilland Chipmunks and the Piper L-4 Grasshoppers
Display Flying
Quite the regulars and favourites at home base IWM Duxford airshows and flying days, it’s been fantastic to see them getting booked for airshows across the country including Shuttleworth, Headcorn, Blackpool and Clacton this year, and I only hope more airshows get them booked up. Yes Eastbourne, I’m looking at you!
Bringing the combination of Yak power with tight formations and aerobatics, it’s been a privilege to be able to watch the team build upon their displays each year as they each grow in confidence with each passing display season. A point Tom brought up with me during a quick conversation at Duxford one afternoon. It’s also an exciting prospect for future display seasons on where this may lead.
This year I felt was a real big development of having a display that keeps the viewer entertained all the time. Starting with passes in vic formation before breaking into a solo and a pairs display, and then further into individual solo aspects before finishing back in 3 ship formation, it kept the display space busy at all times. It allowed for something to always be in view, with minimal emptiness. I feel this is a skill in its self and the lads choreographed a very well thought through routine.
The Aircraft
Yak-18T
Leading the team in displays and formation and being quite the unusual choice for an aerobatic aircraft, the Yak-18T is a 4 seater fully aerobatic aircraft first built in 1967 to train Aeroflot pilots, before gaining quite the cult popularity both inside and outside the USSR as we see today.
With a top speed of 163mph and impressive G-limits of +6.4 and -3.2 you can see why this rugged aircraft has been favoured so much for display flying.
Yak-52
Completing the teams standard 3 ship formation are the two Yak-52 aircraft, built over a decade after the Yak-18. Amazingly, both aircraft types share the same Vedeneyev MP-14 Radial engine and pnumatic system for operating the brakes, flaps, under carriage and engine starting components, which must make team maintenance so a doddle.
Much lighter than the 18T and slightly faster with a maximum speed of 177mph, the aircraft allows for some faster energy maneuvers, due it;s it;s higher +7 and -5 g-limit ratings, a characteristic hugely relied on by aerobatic competitors who old the Yak-52 in high regard.
The Future
I’m really looking forward to what the 2027 flying display season brings in regards to the Flying Comrades. New display venues, new airshows and nice display sequences I’m sure are all on the cards. Really solid job this year, I will stand by the statement that I think they are the most improved display team this year that I have seen, and I impore you give yourself the opportunity to see them display next year. Enjoy a well deserved beer and a good off season.
Tally Ho!