Yak 52 nose wheel steering tends to be tricky in situations like that!
I would have expected a Yak pilot to know what he/she is doing, which makes this positioning all the more surprising. Do their engines overheat so easily?
Cant comment on the Cessna, but wrt the Yak, could it be that he was being considerate and displaying good airmanship by turning at an angle so as not to do a run-up with the potential for someone unseen close behind? I actually try to turn slightly off-axis if Im aware of someone possibly taxiing behind me when I do power checks.
Regards, SD..
I agree, and we should always do that. Line up for the power checks at an offset angle so one can check there is nobody behind.
However, one can do that while facing in the general direction of the exit (towards the runway), not facing in the opposite direction.