02/14/2026
RUSSIAN RARITY EMERGES!
Rolled out into the sunshine for the first time in many years, this is Mike O'Rourke's stunning Yakovlev Yak-7b. The two-seat fighter is now fast approaching completion after a major refurbishment and upgrade by Jay McIntyre and his JEM Aviation team.
This aircraft started life as a Czech-built LET C-11, a license-built iteration of the Russian-designed Yak-11. It was converted to Yak-7b configuration with its distinctive high-back aft-fuselage, by the late Bob Day through the 1980s, later flying with several owners across North America.
After purchase by Mike O'Rourke it was shipped here to Omaka, NZ and into the care of our hangar neighbours, JEM Aviation who are among the world's most experienced practitioners when it comes to the WW-II era Yak fighter-trainer family. It is hoped to report the first runs of the freshly overhauled Allison engine in the coming days with a first post restoration flight following not too far down range!
On completion, this striking aircraft will be the only airworthy representative of the Yak-7 series flying anywhere in the world!
