Steadfast is a modern version (built in 2005) of the Soviet World War 2 fighter, the Yak-3. It has several speed records thanks to it's powerful 14 cylinder radial engine.
It was built in Romania by Avioane Craiova in 2005 and uses a Pratt and Whitney R-2000 14 cylinder (double row) radial engine producing approximately 1,850 hp. The original version used a V-12 liquid-cooled engine. It arrived in New Zealand in 2019. It's home is Omaka Aerodrome in Blenheim.
It holds nine world records, including the under 3000kg World Speed Record of 669 kph (416 mph). Note: some sites list the speed as 655 kph (maybe this was an earlier run; the owner was constantly enhancing the perfomance while he raced it). It also has the time to 3000 meters (10,000 feet) record in 125 seconds.
Use the controller to watch Steadfast fly past at speed, and appreciate that sound! You can also see several Yak 52s taxiing past. This is a moderately large video and might take a few seconds to load.
The Steadfast Yak-3U is a modified version of the original Soviet Yak-3. It was designed for racing and performance, and has impressive speed and power capabilities, as well as sounding fairly awesome!
Steadfast Yak-3U Specifications:
Engine Type: Pratt & Whitney R-2000
Horsepower: 1,850 hp
Weight: 5,300 lbs (empty)
Maximum Speed: 416 mph (669 km/h)
Records Held: 9 world records, including speed and time-to-climb.
Sources: Warbirds Over Wanaka 2026 Programme, Classic Fighters web site, Historical Aviation Film Unit web site.
My latest blog post: Think for Yourself: In the end, everything is just an opinion. Be skeptical, and think for yourself! (posted 2026-04-25).
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