Baklan Radio - Yak 52, 50 and 18-T
Today is October 30th 2018 and I have tested both these Baklan radios in a buddy's 52, at a towered airport in Southern California. I have found them serviceable in both receive and transmit modes. And if this Baklan unit plays a part in the operation of the stock factory intercom, well that worked fine, too.
Reason I bring that up is...unfortunately with Electronics, all sales are final.
But let's not sell this awesome piece of radio-telephony short. It has a range of 60km.
A few years ago, as a flight of four Yaks transited the northern ridge of the LA basin enroute to KPTV, only the Baklan equipped aircraft could communicate with Joshua approach - all the other American radios in the flight were "weak and unreadable", and could only pickup static.
But then if a radio's good enough to be fitted in the mighty Tupolev TU-114, well...
Full disclosure: we're really not sure whether anyone's repairing these anymore.
Removing the unit from a 52 though is as simple as:
1.Removing the upper hinge pin on the rear seat so you can rotate it forward to get access behind;
2.Cutting the safety wire on the two large thumb wheels that restrain the Baklan; as they unscrew they will eventually swing down;
3.Finally a braided strap with a hooked washer under that central knob must be released,
4.Then the unit is pulled forward and out of its horizontal rack.
Remember to re-safety those 2 large round knobs together after installation.
The Baklan's folding carrying handle is reminiscent of a 1960's transistor radio, so if its a nice day and you feel like flying your freak flag, get your pinstripe flares & stax heels out of the closet and take the old radio for a swing around the park.
You knew it all along...you're too sexy for a Garmin.