In the UK since 1993 Gennady displayed the Yak-52 at many Air Shows, including RAF Cosford, Biggin Hill, North Weald, RAF Waddington, RAF Kemble, RAF Weston Super-Mare, Hawarden, Old Warden, Leicester, Old Buckenham, Lowestoft, Little Gransden, Sleap.  His display sequence starts with a flick roll shortly after take off at about 50 feet, includes Abracadabra's, Lomchovacs and Tail Slides and ends with a low level pass downwind on the active runway followed by a steep pull up, roll to inverted, flaps down, wheels down and landing.

Flying display sequence: 

Flick roll on the take-off at a minimum height of 50 feet agl
1.   Flat spin
2.   Lomchovac
3.   3/4 roll on the vertical line up, stall turn, 1/4 roll on the vertical down
4.   Half roll on the vertical line up, exit in inverted flight at the top
5.   Inverted spin
6.   Reverse half-Cuban eight
7.   4 point hesitation roll
8.   Half roll on the vertical line, push-forward at the top, vertical dive
9.   Abracadabra
10. Tail-slide
11. Rolling circle
12. Stall turn
13. Avalanche
14. Half-Cuban eight with immediate flick-roll on the exit
15. Positioning manoeuvre
16. Landing at the exit from reverse half-cuban eight (gear, flaps down when inverted)
 

Airshow Reports:

The UK Airshow Review by Paul Osborne:

"The best aerobatics were performed by a Russian pilot who's name escapes me at the moment.  He took off and hugged the runway at only a few feet and then did a flick roll at less than 50 feet from the ground!  The way he flung his Yak 52 around was amazing, tumbles and spins aplenty.  He ended his display by landing straight off the top of a loop and waved to the crowd as he touched down."
    North Weald Air Display, 10 May 1998

"Next up was a slightly insane Russian in a Yak-52.  The flick roll he did just after take-off woke everyone up, and then he proceeded to throw the aircraft around the sky like you wouldn't believe. Tumbling end over end and sometimes throttling back so much you couldn't hear the engine at all, he looked for all the world like he was a dead man for sure! As he finished and landed a lorry went along the crowdline with Airlift veterans throwing chocolate bars at the crowd - a nice touch!"
    RAF Cosford Air Show, 14 June 1998

"The display started at 12.30 with the Harrier doing its usual routine of fast and slow flying. The second item I have seen before at last year's show but its an excellent display. Gennady Elfimov in his Yak-52 takes off and keeps it low to the ground, he then pulls up and does a flick roll very close to the ground. Its a big surprise if you're not expecting it. He then did a superb display of gut-wrenching aerobatics, finishing off with a reverse half-Cuban to land."
    North Weald Air Display, 16 May 1999

"Visitors to the North Weald airshow can't have failed to have been impressed by Gennady Elfimov's display in the Yak-52. He was back again at Waddington for more of the same. He starts off by lifting off the runway and keeping it low. Suddenly he pulls up and flick-rolls it, very impressive. He went on to do more flicks, spins, lomcevaks and all things in between, finishing with a landing from a loops."
    RAF Waddington, Lincs., 26-27 June 1999

Andrew Bates (f4 AVIATION):

"Despite all the thrill and spectacle of the Harrier, it was the Yak-52 which drew the most audible gasp of astonishment from the audience. Within a second or two of take-off, the pilot deftly performed an audacious flick roll of such rapidity enough to take your breath away. The pilot then continued to delight the crowds with an aerobatic display that demonstrated exceptional skill, which on completion was rewarded by another round of applause as the aircraft returned to the static park."
    North Weald Air Display, 16 May 1999

Today's Pilot, October 2001:

"The flying display was closed by Genardy Elfimov in his Yak-52.  Considered by many to be the master of the type, Genardy was formerly an instructor at the Moscow Aerobatic School but is now based at Wolverhampton Business Airport (formerly Halfpenny Green) in the West Midlands.  Beginning his display with his trademark flick roll shortly after take-off he earned enthusiastic applause from his fellow pilots for manoeuvres that some would consider impossible.  His final 'show stopper' was to pull up into a 45 degree climb, roll inverted, lower the Yak's undercarriage, pull through the bottom half of a loop and land - all whilst opening the canopy and waving to the crowd!"
    Yak Fly-In, Kemble, 11 August 2001