LA-5 Rocks

[waystin2]

Why more folks do not fly this Russian fighter is beyond me.  Took it up last night for the first time and had a flat out hoot with it.  It seems to handle the tnb as well as the bnz roles well.  Please fill in any information on handling in the MA and historical data you can give on this ac fellow AH'ers.

[BaldEagl]

Yeah, it is a great little fighter once you get used to the wing slats, the rate of fire and the poor ballistics. 

I flew it last night for the first time since the update and I love the new look.  Managed a 4:1 K/D in it last night.  At one point I was the only green guy on base defense with about 15 red guys circling overhead and swooping in for the pick attempts.  I got 2 before they downed me then upped it again for 2 more and a landing.

It makes a nice attack platform too for blowing stuff up with the cannons (field ack, etc.).

[waystin2]

What convergence setting are you using Bald? And why?  If you do not mind me asking...

[BaldEagl]

400.  I tend to like longer convergences than most and 400 is as far as I dare set the Russian and Japanese planes.

As a comparison, I set the US 50's, Hispanos and German cannons to 650 and the 303's, 7.9's, etc. to 400 as well.

[trotter]

I flew the LA-5 a bit last tour and had a blast. Got a lot of flaming PM's and whatnot asking me why I was such a dweeb. It was fun.

I wouldn't recommend bnz in it, just for the poor ballistics and ROF. Most high angle deflection shots at high speeds won't be successful. Use its good rate of climb to create vertical advantage in close fights. Use your smaller target profile to its advantage: don't be afraid to begin a manuever that may cross you in front of your enemy's guns if necessary, because a roll at the right moment in that case will make you almost unhittable. Don't be afraid to sustained turn in it, but be aware that you're going to run into stall fight trouble if your opponent is any good. Your acceleration can get you out of most trouble if you recognize it soon enough.

[Ghosth]

La5 has always been a fun bird for those who like cannons.
As to PM's I've received very few over the years, if I did get one I'd probably politely remind them that I could have been in a la7.

Ballistics take some getting used to, easiest is to come to the TA turn on the lead computing gun sight and fly around behind people and get an idea of correct lead. Snapshots can be deadly, especially close in.

Normally I set convergence around 350 in in the La's but usually try to shoot a bit shorter than that.

[BnZ]

La5 has always been a fun bird for those who like cannons.
As to PM's I've received very few over the years, if I did get one I'd probably politely remind them that I could have been in a la7.

Hmmm...turns worse than a Spit, slower than the P-51-190-109 crowd, sounds like a balanced airplane, how could anyone in LW have a problem with it?

[RATTFINK]

Nice lil plane but it takes no skill to kill w/ them.

[Lusche]

Nice lil plane but it takes no skill to kill w/ them.

Philosophical question: If no skill is needed to be successful in a LA-5, why does it has a K/D < 1 ?

[Strip]

Lusche...thats because all the noobs fly them!


Or perhaps because the guns suck compared to many rides?


The world will never know!


Strip

[Lusche]

Lusche...thats because all the noobs fly them!

So if it takes NO skill to get kills in it, those pilots have even less skill than... zero?  

[waystin2]

Nice lil plane but it takes no skill to kill w/ them.

The same could be said about most low ENY planes.  Where is your information on handling in the MA and historical data you can give on this AC Rattfink?  Thanks for the info.

[RATTFINK]

The same could be said about most low ENY planes.  Where is your information on handling in the MA and historical data you can give on this AC Rattfink?  Thanks for the info.

I base it on, majority of the people who immediately grab this plane for a base defense and going for a Head On attack. I’m not saying that all LA pilots use this method; but it is the most used tactic. 

The plane is fast and has a very nice cannon.  I’m not dogging the plane as much as I am the ones who use it to pat their score with an easy kill. 

You have to admit it is an easy plane to obtain kills in.

I believe when HTC remodeled the LA’s they became slower; either that. or I’m getting faster.

[Lusche]

I believe when HTC remodeled the LA’s they became slower

No. Speed, acceleration, climb rate still the same.

I base it on, majority of the people who immediately grab this plane for a base defense and going for a Head On attack. I’m not saying that all LA pilots use this method; but it is the most used tactic.

It's the most used tactic by most planes, not only La's. P51's, Spits, 190s, P38s, all are trying to ho me without difference.
BTW, I do rarely see people upping LA-5's for base defense. Most of the time it's the La-7.

[RATTFINK]

As for your information on handling in the MA and historical data on the LA.  I would advise that you talk to Widewing (AHII Trainer).