How do you fly an LA effectively?

[thndregg]

It's extremely rare for me to fly the La7, except for when one of my buddies posts a mission. I just don't get along with it. I do prefer the Yak9U. Less guts, less ammo, but more satisfying to get kills in it.

[DamnedRen]

Originally posted by SteveBailey
Often, when someone rides along in my pony, they comment that planes tend to fly right in front of me, as if begging to be shot. I explain to them that all the ACM in the world is nice, but not that necessary if you simply point your nose at where the enemy is going to be... .then pull the trigger to cause the bullets to meet him there. This may oversimplify things a tad but it's really all one needs to do to shoot down bad guys.

The one weakness that many, many players of this game have is that they repeat their evasives. I may miss the first time.. the second time I'll be ahead of them.  

Steve's assessment is correct. In the TA I teach the Pie concept of dogfighting. A simple analogy: If you think of gramma cutting yer favorite pumkin pie. She may cut it from the center out to the edge. That cut is a straight line. Now if the outside edge of your pie crust describes the circle your plane flies (be it up, down, left or right) all you need do is determine his turn then fly along that beautiful straight cut Gamma made in the pie untill you show up that the same place the other guys plane turned to. At that point in the time space contimuim you merely shoot him and continue on yer way (please do not call me Einstein).

This applies to all planes, including the Laffie .

Did anyone wanna hear about my "defensive egg"?

[DamnedRen]

Originally posted by Adonai
Your right, russian 20s were more of spray and pray weapon, not sure why they didnt work on a better 20mm the entire war.

When I shoot a guy at 100-200 yds, while flying a Laffie, I guarantee I'm not spraying and praying.

[Condor]

When I shoot a guy at 100-200 yards I almost always die in the collision.

[Rich46yo]

Bomber-wise the LA-7 is a pretty easy kill. I dont climb high in bombers, only 10,000' to 12,000', but its still higher then most LaLas. So they always come in low in a belly attack. The only real problem with them is when they are silhouetted against the ground like that the only thing you can see on them is the red on their engine cowling Its very difficult to see them.

                           The few times Ive seen them slash they actually buzz around very well. I guess its their fuel constraints that prevents guys from setting up slashes with them. The LaLas almost always come zipping right in. I know one thing the LaLas can take some hits too and still make it to a landing strip.

                        Ive sent many running home with their pants on fire.

[Daubie]

La-7 is my preferred ride if it isn't ENY unobtainable.   Most of my kills are using this plane.   I still suck, I can't dogfight.  But in stealth mode below radar this plane shines.

Yes, you really need to learn fuel management.  I run max slow to my intended operational area and ditto going back after a couple kills.  It has quite a range if you are cautious with it.   Going back I get up high,  save gas for landings and coast back.

It turn fights well enough that I can move with witty guys trying to get away from me.

At 200 yards you will vaporize nme.

I have vulched runways from way up high, but I quit doing that.  La-7 is great for that, but nme takes it kind of personal.  It is a boom and zoomer.

My tactic I use this plane for is unsuspecting people not paying attention out on the fringe.

Just fly it a lot and learn as you go.  It is very forgiving with hard landings.

I also get killed by these suckers pretty good, too! LOL

Nuff said.
-+-
I don't operate in theatre using Daubie.




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re:

Ghastly
Senior Member

Registered: Jul 2003
Location:
Posts: 447
 How do you fly an LA effectively?
No, I'm not being facetious.

I don't do at all well in the LAs, and I don't really understand what I do differently than others do - I see guys landing 7-9 kill sorties in them on a regular basis (and often, you see guys land a half dozen sorties in them of 5 or more kills).

When I do fly them, I find that between the slow ROF on the cannons and the amount of bullet drop I go through most of an ammo load for 1 to 2 kills, and that coupled with the fact that by the time I get anywhere in one I've burned 1/2 a tank of gas they are frustrating and ineffective to fly.

What are you guys that are able to use them effectively doing differently?




__________________
In game ID: Grue (& Elvene/-Ghost in a sim far away and long ago - Ghastly then Ghost across the pond until just recently)
"You'd better learn secretarial skills or else get married." - Modeling agency to Marilyn Monroe in 1944
Cherry Picker - and proud of it!

[Stang]

Daubie I suggest you swing by the TA and hook up with one of the trainers, or ask one of the good La7 sticks in the MA for some pointers.  Learning how to get the most out of your favorite ride will make AH all the more enjoyable for you.

[RedTop]

As if there aren't enuff of these frikin annoying planes in the MA.....now we're giving lesson on flying them.

[DamnedRen]

Originally posted by RedTop
As if there aren't enuff of these frikin annoying planes in the MA.....now we're giving lesson on flying them.

Hmmmmm...."we fly em all" as part of the signature block? What's up with that?

I don't normally fly em but I did happen to get 181 kills in them last tour. I guess they fly ok.

Besides the fact they fly like a spit on steroids you need to be aware of their fuel burn. Everything is fine until you hit Center tank. When you hit that if you are around 25 miles from home then you need to start back at 3/4 of center tank fuel left. It is the only tank that she burns through quickly.  

Hope this helps.

[RedTop]

Originally posted by DamnedRen
Hmmmmm...."we fly em all" as part of the signature block? What's up with that?

 

A couple of squaddies will take em up on ocassion....thats the "We" part...Me...no. I flew it 1 time in AH1 and 1 time in AH2.

[Viking]

Originally posted by Adonai
Your right, russian 20s were more of spray and pray weapon, not sure why they didnt work on a better 20mm the entire war.

The B-20 20mm cannon used on the 3-gun La-7 is probably the best 20mm of the war. Perhaps not on a gun-by-gun basis, but on a firepower per lbs. The B-20 weighs little more than a .50 cal.

And they didn't need a "better" 20mm if they needed more range, penetration etc. They had the excellent 23 mm for that.

[moot]

Agressively.

[BaldEagl]

Originally posted by Viking
The B-20 20mm cannon used on the 3-gun La-7 is probably the best 20mm of the war.  

I have to disagree.  The 20mm Hispano is a far superior weapon.

[Viking]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
I have to disagree.  The 20mm Hispano is a far superior weapon.

Only that it weighs twice as much as the B-20 and has about 25% lower rate of fire.

[Karnak]

Originally posted by BaldEagl
I have to disagree.  The 20mm Hispano is a far superior weapon.

Hispanos are too heavy and have a lower than normal rate of fire.

The Japanese Ho-5 is another very good aircraft gun.