1972 single-seat sporting aircraft Yak-50 was created in Yakovlev design office. Two years later a double-seat training aircraft Yak-52 was created on its base. Besides the double-seat cockpit nose landing gear Yak-52 was also notable for nose landing gear. After adaptation and tests in 1978 the aircraft was launched in series production in Romania. Since 1979 aircraft Yak-52 started to arrive to DOSAAF aeroclubs in USSR. Yak-52 replaced Yak-18 as an initial trainer.