Daniel’s Travel Vlog
FLIGHT #2/11 MOTOR SICH YAK-40 UR-88310 ZAPORIZHIA (OZH) – MINSK (MSQ), OCTOBER 8, 2016
This video has been remastered and substantially improved in Sight & Sound and replaces the video published in 2016.
Being tempted by the idea to join the final scheduled flight of Belavia's legendary TU-154M on a rotation from Minsk to St. Petersburg and back, it just made sense to change my usual access to Belarus from a direct flight from Frankfurt to a Motor Sich Airlines flight from Zaporizhia, Ukraine.
Especially, because a YAK-40 and an AN-140 have been planned for scenic flights out of Minsk, the possibility was likely to get a two hour YAK-40 and a two hour AN-140 ride in and out of Minsk for 150 EUR.
Once in Zaporizhia, I could not resist the idea to explore once again the network of this very unusual and unique fine little airline, operating solely aircraft of Soviet and Ukrainian production, equipped with engines developed and manufactured by the Motor Sich Engine Plant.
So, it was off again to the Ukraine, in 2016. Things in the Ukraine have changed considerably from 2014.
To the worse.
The enthusiasm from the days of the "Maidan" has given way to lethargic and pessimistic mood.
Lots of red tape, increased suspicion against foreigners from whatever origin has sparked an increased awareness of security personnel on the ramp and elsewhere against those species with a camera in their hand.
Spirits and minds are back to old Soviet reflections.
It is hard to imagine this great country getting back on its feet soon.
Eleven (!) flights in total on board Soviet and Ukrainian metal were about to follow.
This flight on board YAK-40 UR-88310 was the second flight on this tour, from Zaporizhia to Minsk to join the other avgeeks, busy flying on AN-30, MI-26 and other delights.
On this flight I met my old acquaintance Nataliya Trubchanenko and Alina Romanenko from two days before, now with a nice smile on her face.
Taking pictures was no problem whatsoever anymore, although ground time on ramp for taking videos was cut short as usual, because punctuality is a big issue.
History of Yakovlev 40 UR-88310
Airframe 9940760 was manufactured at the SAZ Plant in Saratov-Yuzhny on January 14, 1980 and delivered on February 23, the same year to the Government of Madagascar, registered 5R-MUB, where she served until 1997.
5R-MUB was sold in 1997 to Dniproavia and in 2002 to Challenge Aero of Ukraine, carrying the registration UR-88310, operating flights for the Interpipe Group.
UR-88310 was sold in May, 2010 to Motor Sich Airlines and operates scheduled and charter flights for the Motor Sich Group.
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Flight details
Flight : M9 317
Date : Saturday, October 8, 2016
Aircraft : YAK-40
Registration : UR-88310
Previous registrations :
- 5R-MUB (Government of Madagascar)
- UR-88310 (Dniproavia, Challenge Aero, Motor Sich Airlines)
Built : 1980
From : Zaporizhia (OZH)
To : Minsk (MSQ)
Take off : 09.42 h (0642 UTC)
Touch down : 11.34 h (0834 UTC)
Flying time : 1 hour 52 minutes
Flying distance : 910 km
Altitude : 24.000 ft / 7.300 m
Speed : 270 knots / 510 km/h
Flight Captain : Vagner, Aleksandr
2nd Pilot : Markvart, Kiril
Flight Engineer : Bogachov, Sergey
Cabin Crew : Trubchanenko, Nataliya
Cabin Crew : Romanenko, Alina
![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QzTvD2FUtx4/maxresdefault.jpg)