North American T-6 Texan vs Yakovlev Yak-52

The North American T-6 Texan (Harvard) and Yakovlev Yak-52 are the two most popular radial warbird trainers — the T-6 the big American WWII advanced trainer, the Yak-52 the accessible Soviet aerobatic trainer.

Live Market Snapshot

Current asking-price market, aggregated across multiple marketplaces · re-checked on a rolling daily cycle

North American T-6 Texan

For sale now: 14
Median asking: $252,000
Range: $120,965–$330,750
Model years available: 1940–1958

Yakovlev Yak-52

For sale now: 22
Median asking: $76,869
Range: $49,200–$125,490
Model years available: 1980–2001

Live data from AeroGurus, aggregated daily across the used-aircraft market. Figures are current asking prices, not appraisals — confirm with a pre-buy inspection.

Safety Record

Absolute counts scale with fleet size — the most-produced types log more events without being less safe. Compare the % fatal.

NTSB (1982–now)	North American T-6 Texan	Yakovlev Yak-52
All events	—	4
Serious	—	0
Fatal	—	3
Fatalities	—	3
% Fatal	—	75%

View full North American T-6 Texan NTSB record →View full Yakovlev Yak-52 NTSB record →

Full Specs Comparison

Swipe to see all specs

Spec / Model	North American T-6 TEXAN	Yakovlev YAK-52
	View 1 listings → Median $252,000	View 20 listings → Median $76,869
Price Range	$120,965 – $330,750	$49,200 – $125,490
Category	Warbirds	Warbirds
Model Specifications
Seats	2	2
Horsepower	600 HP	360 HP
Cruise Speed	126 kts (233 km/h)	100 kts (185 km/h)
Range	630 nm (1,167 km)	300 nm (556 km)
Service Ceiling	24,000 ft (7,315 m)	13,100 ft (3,993 m)
Max Gross Weight	5,617 lbs (2,548 kg)	2,877 lbs (1,305 kg)
Useful Load	1,800 lbs (816 kg)	800 lbs (363 kg)
Fuel Burn	40.0 GPH (151 L/h)	14.0 GPH (53 L/h)
Engines	1 x Piston	1 x Piston

Which Should You Buy: North American T-6 Texan or Yakovlev Yak-52?

Bottom line: Choose the T-6 Texan for WWII heritage, a big radial and the warbird-airshow standard; choose the Yak-52 for lower acquisition/operating cost, aerobatic agility and easier ownership. T-6 = heritage/presence; Yak-52 = accessible/aerobatic.

Pick the T-6 Texan if…

Faster cruise — 126 kts vs 100 kts.
Longer range — 630 nm vs 300 nm.

Pick the Yak-52 if…

Budget matters — from $49,200 vs $120,965, you save ~$71,765.
More inventory — 20 listings vs 1.

Auto-generated from current market data and published specs. Confirm with a pre-buy inspection and professional appraisal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, North American T-6 TEXAN or Yakovlev YAK-52?

It depends on your mission and budget. The T-6 TEXAN cruises at 126 kts with 630 nm range. The YAK-52 cruises at 100 kts with 300 nm range. Review the specs table above to find which fits your flying profile.

How do prices compare?

North American T-6 TEXAN: from $289,000. Yakovlev YAK-52: from $57,046. Prices vary by year, hours, avionics, and condition. Always get a pre-buy inspection.

What's the difference between North American T-6 Texan and Yakovlev Yak-52?

Yak-52 engine: Vedeneyev M-14P (360 hp). Cruise: 126 vs 100 kts. Range: 630 vs 300 nm.

Which is cheaper to operate per hour?

Variable cost includes fuel, reserves and overhaul accruals. Annual fixed costs (hangar, insurance, annual inspection) add to the total.

Which has more seats and useful load?

T-6 Texan: 2 seats / 1,800 lb useful load. Yak-52: 2 seats / 800 lb useful load. Useful load = max gross weight minus empty weight; it determines how much fuel plus payload you can carry.

How does maintenance compare — TBO and overhaul cost?

Reaching the time-between-overhaul (TBO) triggers a mandatory engine/airframe rebuild that affects resale value.

Disclaimer: All prices and cost estimates are from third-party sources for informational purposes only. Always obtain professional appraisal and inspection before purchase.

Prices re-checked on a rolling cycle — most within a few days · Data: FAA Registry, NTSB · About our data