THE former Russian fighter plane that crashed in Gippsland last week killing the pilot was previously owned by a member of Peninsula Aero Club, Tyabb.
The single engine Yakovlev Yak-9UM fighter crashed near Moe, Friday 7 September. The pilot’s name had not been released yesterday (Monday).
Long-time Tyabb resident Jim Wickham sold the plane to its new owners, based at the LaTrobe Valley Airport, near Traralgon, late last year and it flew east in February.
Classic Aviation News reported that the Yak-9 was the only example of the type in Australia. It was built in Russia in 2004.
First published in the Western Port News – 11 September 2018
