How Ukrainian Two-Seat Planes Are Conquering the World

February 25, 2021

Yuriy Yakovliev is an engineer and founder of the plane manufacturer Aeroprakt. It is a world leader in ultralight aircraft production. Aeroprakt started out as Soviet amateur aircraft design club in 1986.

After Ukraine gained its independence, Yuriy and his business partner registered Aeroprakt as a business and found their first investors. Aeroprakt has produced over 1,000 two-seat sports planes that fly in the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Germany and other countries.

Yuriy and the team of engineers design the planes, create the parts and assemble the aircraft at their factory in Kyiv. Yuriy, who is also a pilot, tests the planes and participates in flying competitions.

He is also fighting for the liberalization of air traffic laws. In 2008, he helped change Ukraineā€™s regulation that required a permit for takeoff in advance. Now, Yuriy is striving to abolish the complicated procedure for small aircraft owners to fly abroad.

Author: Anna Yakutenko

The material was prepared with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation within the framework of the project Stories from Ukraine. The material reflects the position of the authors and does not necessarily coincide with the position of the International Renaissance Foundation.