Yak-3

[SD67]

OK the variance between the Yaks depends upon exactly which model you take for comparison.

Full Name:   Yakovlev Yak-1 and Yak-3
Variants:   Yak-1M and -3
Type:   Single-seat fighter
Country of Origin:   USSR
Manufacturer:   Yakovlev
First Flight:   (Yak-1M) 1942; (Yak-3) Spring 1943
Engine(s):   (Yak-1M) one 1,260 hp Klimov VK-105PF vee-12 liquid-cooled; (Yak-3) 1,225 hp VK-105PF-2; (final series) 1,650 hp VK-107A
Wingspan:   30 ft 2.25 in (9.20 m)
Length:   27 ft 10.25 in (8.50 m)
Height:   7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)
Weights:   Empty: (VK-105) 4,960 lb (2,250 kg); Loaded: (VK-105) 5,864 lb (2,660 kg)
Maximum Speed:   (VK-105) 404 mph (650 km/h); (VK-107) 447 mph (720 km/h)
Initial Climb:   (VK-105) 4,265 ft (1,300 m)/min
Service Ceiling:   (VK-105) 35,450 ft (10,800 m)
Range:   (VK-105) 506 miles (815 km
Armament:   One 20 mm ShVAK, with 120 rounds, and two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) UBS machine guns, each with 250 rounds

As you can see the later models were equipped with the same 1600HP Klimov as the Yak-9's.
It's interesting to note that the Yak 3 was actually developed after the Yak-9 series, the 9 being a descendant of the 7 series tandem trainer which was developed as a result of research into a heavy fighter variant which was actually first produced as the Yakovlev I-27 in 1939 and presented alongside the I-26 in 1940 as the UTI26. Yakovlev actually presented FOUR aircraft prototypes to Stalin at the same time including the I-26, UTI-26 (I-27), I-28, and I-30.
Another side point is that the Yak-9U was also equipped with hardpoints for two bombs of 100kg each, something our U's cannot do.

[Wmaker]

I think I laid out the data that I used for the comparison pretty clearly.

As you can see the later models were equipped with the same 1600HP Klimov as the Yak-9's.

It has been mentioned (in this thread) that the VK-107 engined Yak-3U was a post war plane.

[SD67]

The VK107 Yak 3 was produced in 1945 though the records for serial production of the Yak 3 show production starting in 1944 continuing through to 1946 with no reference to the actual variants.
It's worth noting that I am currently attempting to build accurate 3D models of the Yaks 9 and 3 and If anyone has some information I would be eternally grateful.
I am missing some critical wing data such as accurate chord and washout (I have approximate chord for both root and tip, but I'd like something harder).
I am currently waiting on some professional cutaways to arrive in the mail, but I may not get the data I need from them either.
I'm also waiting on a reply from the factory, but I'm not sure if they will be willing to supply the data I require. I will contact them again regarding this issue and see if they will be willing to supply me with some more concrete information regarding the evolution of the series.

[Wmaker]

The VK107 Yak 3 was produced in 1945 though the records for serial production of the Yak 3 show production starting in 1944 continuing through to 1946 with no reference to the actual variants.

I noticed there actually is a mention about VK-107 engined Yak-3's use in the WWII:

http://mig3.sovietwarplanes.com/yak3/yak3vk107/yak3vk107.html

About operative use during the Great Patrioctic War: the book "porsev'ye istrebitel YAK 1941-1945" shows a profile about an operative Yak-3 VK-107A. Yellow 32 was the personal aircraft of Pavel Petrovic Karavay from March 1945 till Oct. 1946. He was the commander of  897 IAP. Karavay and some other pilots went to Zavod no.31 at Tbilisi for planes and they found some new models of Yak fighters.
They took possession of them and brought to the unit by evading the usual procedures. Karavay used the plane in fights above Hungary. He shot down one Bf-109 on 23.03.1945 above Mór and one more above lake Balaton on 22.04.1945 while flying this machine.

So they went and took the planes without a permission. Hard to say how many of them actually saw action etc. Hardly Aces High -material IMO.

[moot]

Pyro briefly introduced each plane that was up for the last public vote, and IIRC he qualified the Yak3 as a "small sports car", or something like that.. Hearing from the authors of the AH model (supposing they had done some BOE calculations) ought to point towards what the FM would be like, and what the plane would bring to the planeset.  His exact comment/description is somewhere in one of the threads about that vote.

[Wmaker]

Here's that quote from pyro:

Yak 3 – I put this in here because I don’t believe we can make this as a Yak 9 variant.  Although it looks the same, its fuselage is dimensionally quite different IIRC.  This is a really fun plane.  It’s like a little sports car roadster.

[SD67]

I've had word back from the Yakovlev Design Bureau and they have given me an excellent reference to follow up and they are sending me some detailed drawings via snail mail.

[Bruv119]

yak 3 in fa was a stunt plane in every sense.

Used to love going down the runway pulling straight up vertical into an immelmann   

The ammo/fuel loadout gives it little time to do the killing but it was really fun to fly.   I believe it would make the yak series much more popular because it has that turnable edge that you have to squeeze out of the 9u.

Always like watching the yak's at airshows they seem spitfire like in their ease of handling and graceful.

[BillyD]

wondered why this plane wasn't in the game. Luftwaffe issued an order to all thier pilots not to engage a yak without the oil cooler under the nose

[Noir]

I've had word back from the Yakovlev Design Bureau and they have given me an excellent reference to follow up and they are sending me some detailed drawings via snail mail.

NICE