Yak 7 is more important than either other Yak, at least for aces High.
And well use a Tu 2 more, so yeah....
You give your opinion like it's a fact ...when it is, actually just your opinion.
My opinion is that we could condense the Yak range to just 3 air frames
Yak1b, Yak9 T/M/U, Yak3 and span the complete GPW with relevant ac.
For me the Yak9U is a result of being able to use one 3d graphic for two almost identical air frames. It was simply efficient to add it at the outset of the development work in AH1. We have the flight model so its still efficient to keep it, but it is not representative of the Yak range any more than a Ta152 is representative of the FW190 range.
Juat as HTC have expanded and developed the
Spitfire
Hurricane
Bf109
Fw 190
P40
P47
P38
The time has come to expand the Yak range IMO........as per the above ac the 3d model has to be totally refreshed. Further the Yak9T/U flight models may as per the Hurricane require some tinkering.
Given this, and the decision to address this aged AH ac, then the most efficient method of attacking this (IMO) to give us early/mid and end war Yaks would be to ignore the Yak7 and the Yak9D which would be a pity but I would have to admit that the later Yak9M could stand in for these without any gain in advantage in any event...........It would be called a generic Yak9 and have either 37mm or 20mm nose cannon. Albeit with the long nose .
The same ac frame would be used for the Yak9U.
The Yak1b and Yak3 are also very similar in air frame. (the Yak3 has slightly shorter wings.....and that clear front cockpit shield)
Yak1b August 42 to early 44, Stanligrad, Kursk,
Yak9 May43 to Oct 44 Kursk, Bagration,
Yak3 May 44 to thru45 Bagration, Berlin, Manchuria
Yak9U Dec44 to thru 45 Berlin, Manchuria (maybe)
Given a choice bewteen the Yak3 and the Yak9U I would choose the Yak3 for many reasons...but actually as we see with other models...... there does not have to be a choice.......... once it is decided the Yak range is due for updating from the present decade old model then a modest range of 2.5/3 airfames will meet most of the SE and MA needs.
Of course if HTC could also throw in a Yak7 (Stalingrad) and or Yak7b (Kursk) you would find me cheering from the roof tops.