This must be where they got the FM for the La7 :)

[storch]

found a great site for the yaks

http://www.vectorsite.net/avyak1.html

[Warspawn]

The data supplied by Stalin's USSR is very suspect.  It's well known they severely fudged the Kingcobra's performance numbers vs. aircraft built in the homeland by Communist workers.  Stalin wouldn't appreciate any aircraft produced by capitalists outperforming ones engineered and built at home.

Not wanting to start an arguement with the experts, but the Soviets supplied very innacurate information about their aircraft used during WWII; partly in self-defense of course, in order to make their equipment look to be on-par with what the West was fielding next door to them at the time.

[Mako15]

Originally posted by Viking
Yeah you can still buy a brand new Yak-3m, but they are Allison powered.

"Makes note...planning for the future...I forsee a huge expenditure of money on a certain aircraft, followed by a huge expenditure of money on an engine swap (Merlin), followed by an unsatisfactorily low gain on an Allison engine sold on Ebay "

[LYNX]

I wonder just how good todays Tiffy will do against the rusky beast  ?

[Tilt]

Originally posted by storch
found a great site for the yaks

http://www.vectorsite.net/avyak1.html

Thanks Storch...............a nice read. The Feb 43 date for the Yak9U accident  is misleading........... it did happen in Feb 43 but it was not a Yak9U as we know it and Yak 9U's did not then go into production (even with the Klimov 105PA)    even if            the Yak9M eventually did.                                                                            

My understanding was that the 9U used the Klimov 107A thoroughout its production runwhich started in April 44. Unfortunately units did not see combat until August that year whilst engine problems were sorted.

[storch]

I dunno about the soviets mis-reporting the facts.  I do know that even as late 1951 F-51s and F-82s that mixed it up with yak9Ms and La9s found themselves with their hands full even though they were flown (reportedly) by poorly trained korean pilots.  

The only allied fighter that could go toe to toe with these very capable soviet designs was the phenomenal hawker sea fury with the bristol centaurus XV engine spinning the rotol five blade propeller.  only then did they have an equally competent combatant.  it's reported that hoagy carmicheal even shot down a MiG-15 studmuffinot with his sea fury.

in any even soviet propaganda aside they were arguably all the epitome of piston engined designs and their designers are rightfully respected base on the designs merits.

the commie bastiges

[Squire]

Storch, ya, for the Yak-9 in general thats true, but the "Yak-9U" was a late war "super varient". Thats what I meant.

I would like to see a "regular" Yak-9 as well from @1943 with proper air to air guns, not the 37mm tank busting monster with 2 bursts of ammo.