Soko 522

The Soko 522 was a Yugoslav advanced trainer and light attack aircraft developed in the early 1960s by the SOKO factory in Mostar. Designed to replace the aging fleet of Yak‑9U and other WWII‑type trainers, the 522 first flew on 15 May 1961 and entered service with the Yugoslav Air Force in 1963. Its airframe was of all‑metal construction with a low‑wing layout and retractable under‑carriage, while power was supplied by a single 750‑horsepower Rolls‑Royce Viper engine, later replaced by a domestically produced Klimov V‑615. The cockpit featured dual, fully synchronized controls, a modern navigation suite, and provision for basic armament such as two 12.7 mm machine guns and under‑wing hardpoints for rockets or light bombs. Over 150 units were produced, serving not only as trainers for pilots transitioning to jet aircraft but also in counter‑insurgency roles during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. The Soko 522 is remembered for bridging the gap between piston‑engine trainers and jet platforms, contributing to the development of Yugoslavia’s indigenous aviation industry and influencing later designs such as the Soko G‑4 Super Galeb. Its legacy endures in regional flight schools to this day.