Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a flying catamaran, and it’s heading to the Gold Coast

A one-of-a-kind aerobatic plane known as the ‘flying catamaran’ has arrived in Australia where its unique double fuselage will be on display at the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast.

Aerobatic pilot and engineer Hayden Pullen with one half of the Yak 110 he will reassemble for the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

An aircraft unlike anything ever seen in Australia is taking shape at Brisbane’s Archerfield Airport ahead of next month’s inaugural Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast.

The Yak 110 is the only trimotor aerobatics aircraft in the world, consisting of two Yak 55s joined by a Lear 24 jet engine.

Known as “the flying catamaran” because of its unique double fuselage, the aerobatic plane was created in the US by master aircraft builder Dell Coller, pilot Jeff Boerboon and aviation enthusiast Chad Bartee.

“We designed the Yak 110 over years of beers, talking meticulously through every detail and how we could make it work,” said Mr Boerboon.

“We would talk about something and then wake up two weeks later with a solution, it was a true labour of love.”

The one-of-a-kind Yak 110 in action ahead of the Pacific Airshow on the Gold Coast in August.

Having flown in the Pacific Airshow at Huntington Beach, California in 2018, the Yak 110 was high on the list of aircraft to appear in the first Gold Coast version of the show.

In order to do so, the colourful plane was packed into two containers and shipped down under, where Gold Coast aircraft mechanic and aerobatic pilot Hayden Pullen was asked to lend a hand.

“I’d heard about this mad plane that’s two planes with a jet engine in between, and I was blown away when I was asked to help put it together for the airshow,” Mr Pullen said.

“We have experience unpacking planes from containers and not doing any damage, because that’s a big risk with these aircraft. They look strong, but the pieces can be fragile.”

He said anyone would recognise that it was “not normal to have two planes joined together” in a design that resembled something out of a Marvel movie.

Aerobatic pilot and mechanic Hayden Pullen with one half of the extraordinary Yak 110 at Archerfield Airport. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

As the pilot, Mr Boerboon took the left side cockpit, leaving the right side for a plucky passenger.

“Then you discover each fuselage still has its own original engine, which are very powerful, nearly 500 horsepower, and then you strap a jet engine in the middle just for the sake of it,” said Mr Pullen.

“That makes it next level. People who know anything about aircraft are blown away when they see it and people who don’t know anything look at it and say ‘that’s not right’.”

With a team of four to five people involved, Mr Pullen said the reassembly would take about a week.

“It really is an honour to be working on such a unique machine, and a real thrill to have the Yak here in Australia,” he said.

Mr Pullen would also fly in the airshow in his Extra330LT, as one of dozens of performers over the weekend of August 18 to 20.

The US Defense was sending six teams including the F-16 Demonstration Team, the MV-22B Osprey Demo and US Navy Leap Frogs Parachute demonstration team.

They would be joined by the like of Australia’s talented Air Force Roulettes, and displays from the F/A-18F Super Hornet, C130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III.

Originally published as Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a flying catamaran, and it’s heading to the Gold Coast