Super Yak?

[BlkKnit]

OK, another Yak thread.  

I have always had trouble with them.  Seems like if there's a Yak around I better hurry up and try to get a kill 'cause I wont be flyin long.  But, I tried them a few times in the past with no luck at all.  I just could not see how they were so effective...I mean, no WEP, poor gun package (compared to LW stuff I usually fly) and I just could not fly the thing with any "skill" (normal for me anyway).

So a couple of nights ago, I decide what the heck, and up in Yak-9U.  Geez I was impressed.  Why had I not had this kind of result before?  I still suck, and its still the same old Yak.  I was near HQ, bombers everywhere, and being the type to normally get a few pings and die horribly, I thought "I am in the wrong plane for this" but, I zoom in, get tight on the bomber and give a short burst..boom!  I never hit that consistant in a 109, even in level attitudes, going straight in.  I was nailing deflection shots, stuff was blowing up from very short bursts.  Had 3 kills and half my ammo left and I can empty some guns in a hurry!  The situation was very much abnormal for me.

So, if I can do that, even on what was a good night for me, why is the Yak not more popular?  What do the dedicated Yak flyers know that the rest of us dont?  Care to share your secrets?

It seems to me the Yak may be the toughest fighter in the game below a Tempest.  I know I cant seem to beat them in a fight...ever.  Same goes for other planes, but at least I can put up a bit of a fight before I die against them.  Never last very long against a Yak.

just wondering about it, I hope some folks know some ways to beat a Yak and might be inclined to share that too.

[BlckMgk]

There are a few quirks about it that sometimes make it fustrating to fly:

The first I remembered was that any ping from any angle, usually resulted in losing the radiator, not fun when its knocked out from insane ranges....

She won't bring you any 8+ kill sorties, so become content with only 4-5 kill sorties (which hell I am, but could do better in a p38 ).. unless you refuel/rearm... (How often does the average pilot do so?)

Ammo load is not forgiving, miss a shot, ya better not miss to many more.

Things to love about her....

Shes fast, almost like the 38, things she can't out maneuver she can out climb/run, things she cant out run (which are few) she can out maneuver, etc.. Her gun package isn't so bad, very concentrated 8 MG, and 4 cannon rounds in 1 concentrated spot usually knocks it off... they're nose mounted so no need for convergence... Shes a very small target! Quite easy to shake folks.

Shes a good plane... but she gets over looked for the La-7... all in all, if you like the plane, learn it and don't tell anyone... The less people know about it the less they know what to do when they encounter you... more kills for you.. which usually means much more fun..

-BM

[BlkKnit]

heh, just read Soda's write up on it.  Basically says forget it, you cant beat it.  Well, the skilled pilots could, but average sticks like me can pretty much only hope for a lot of luck.

Thnks BlckMgc.

[jodgi]

I have wet dreams of a Yaks with big guns.

[Blooz]

Uh oh, the secret's out.

The only real drawback is range. Small gas tanks with no drop tanks allowed.

That other YAK thread made me nervous but this one's going to produce a horde of new YAK drivers.

I'm going to have to become more aware now.

Couldn't you all just go back to flying P-47's? That was better for my kill/death ratio.

[gofaster]

I bagged 3 Lancs and a Mustang in a Yak9U and had just under 50% of my ammo left over before I mushed into the ground.  The trick is shooting like a sniper instead of Rambo.

The Yak9U has a very high rate of fire.  You get in close and all you need is a microsecond to land all of your shots, usually a microsecond of stitching the 20mm cannon and 12.7 machine guns is all I need to saw off a wing or stabilizer.  The 109 suffers from slower ROF (or so it seems).

If I find myself shooting out beyond d300, I fire only the machine guns.  Some good pings will pop a radiator or scare the guy into turning so that I can finish the job with the cannon.  I only fire the cannon when I'm inside of d300 on the guy.  Like I said, get in close with the rapid-fire cannon and all you need is a microsecond to take off the guy's wing.

Don't bother using tracers.  At the ranges you'll be shooting, you won't be able to miss.

The Yak is fairly durable, but its one glaring weakness is its radiator.  Once the core is hit, you've got 30 seconds to land it before the engine seizes up. Or so it seems.

[Sikboy]

Originally posted by Blooz
That other YAK thread made me nervous but this one's going to produce a horde of new YAK drivers.

Nah, the short clip and need to get within knife-fighting range will keep most people away.

-Sik

[1K0N]

Originally posted by Sikboy
Nah, the short clip and need to get within knife-fighting range will keep most people away.

-Sik

Sikboy is right the majority of players are sprayers, after one sortie with the yakt they move on to LA-7's..
 After the thread I have noticed more Yaks in the MA, 1 vs 1 Yak fight is a hoot!!  Especially in a MA made of LA-7's

[slimm50]

Geez, just when I made up my mind to try and master the Pony, this thread comes along. Decisions, decisions......nah, I'll stay with the pony for this tour. Maybe try the Yak next tour.
Slim03

[BlkKnit]

well, I had actually tried 3 planes I almost never fly

Yak 9U, Pony and Tempest

Did fairly well with all 3 of them, which I never had before.

Plus tried B pony...nice plane, died a lot, but nice plane.

But, yeah, Blooz has a  point, the P47 is much better, a real moster of a fighter.  I highly recommend it to all, especially newer players     (it really is, in the hands of a good pilot....I only die in 'em)

Oh, not such good results this afternoon, but was still fun.  

Range does stink.

[slimm50]

Originally posted by 1K0N
Sikboy is right the majority of players are sprayers, after one sortie with the yakt they move on to LA-7's..
 After the thread I have noticed more Yaks in the MA, 1 vs 1 Yak fight is a hoot!!  Especially in a MA made of LA-7's

I'm thinkin that one way to improve my score and K/D ratio is to become more picky about withwhom and when I engage. Not gonna get sucked into another e-sucking turn fight with an La7, Spit5 and a Yak, all at the same time.

Yeah...that might help

[Nod]

PERK IT!!!

[Ack-Ack]

Originally posted by BlkKnit
heh, just read Soda's write up on it.  Basically says forget it, you cant beat it.  Well, the skilled pilots could, but average sticks like me can pretty much only hope for a lot of luck.

Thnks BlckMgc.

Speaking as a P-38 pilot I find that taking the fight vertical where the P-38 has the advantage is the quickest and easiest way to take down a Yak.  

Forcing the fight into a turn fight is another way.  While the Yak might have a quicker initial turn rate for a couple of turns, the better turn radius and low speed handling of the P-38 easily counters this, usually resulting in beautiful snap shot opportunities as the Yak passes in front of your guns.

The only time a Yak is a threat for me is if the Yak as a significant altitude advantage and the pilot is smart enough to use it wisely and not allow himself to get into a vertical or turn fight with my P-38.


ack-ack

[davidpt40]

I put the Yak9 and Ki61 in the same category.

[AKIron]

The Yak is a damn fine plane, 'till it takes a hit. Radiator hits seem to occur at least half the time there is even one ping. You've got about a minute flying time left when it springs a leak.

Fly it as if your sitting naked in a glass plane. Figuratively speaking, unecessary to actually disrobe.