La-7's correct critical altitude and general flight modeling

[Karnak]

In this thread AH vs FA AGANCHOR made a claim that the La-7's top speed was 411mph at 16,000ft.  AH models it as being at 20,000ft.

Which does the documentation support?  Are there primary sources for it?

The claim was also made that Japanese planes, other than the Ki-84, also perform too well at altitude in AH.  The performance charts I have seen for the A6Ms seem to match AH's pretty well.  As far as I know, the early A6Ms had better performance at altitude than did their Allied opposition.  The G4M1's performance in AH does rapidly drop off above 10,000ft.

What about the others?

[Wmaker]

6000m is 19685ft

[Karnak]

(Image removed from quote.)

6000m is 19685ft

So it should be a bit lower, but not as much lower as AGANCHOR asks for?  Where is the 6000m documentation?

[gyrene81]

the la-7 is pretty well documented...

http://www.airpages.ru/eng/ru/la7.shtml

that one shows roughly 410.7 mph at 19685 ft...with a service ceiling of around 34,284 ft

[Wmaker]

So it should be a bit lower, but not as much lower as AGANCHOR asks for?  Where is the 6000m documentation?

You can't see the pic I posted? It shows to me ok.

[gyrene81]

i guess it depends on the exact specs...

http://www.wwiivehicles.com/ussr/aircraft/fighter/lavochkin-la-7.asp

[Karnak]

You can't see the pic I posted? It shows to me ok.

Must be blocked at work.  I don't even get a red x.


I am now wondering where the 16,000ft claim comes from?

[Wmaker]

Must be blocked at work.  

Ahh, that must be it. I hosted it via photobucket. Common enough site to be blocked.

I am now wondering where the 16,000ft claim comes from?

No idea. Everything is pointing to the direction that it's not correct, though.

[gyrene81]

maybe the la-5 or lagg-3?

[EagleDNY]

Is there any actual USAAF test data on the La-7 (like they have with captured German or Japanese equipment)?? 

I swear that sometimes I get the feeling that the performance figures were put out by Pravda and that recording anything negative about aircraft produced by the glorious workers of the people's paradise was considered aiding the enemy and resulted in a quick trip to Siberia. 

[Karnak]

Is there any actual USAAF test data on the La-7 (like they have with captured German or Japanese equipment)?? 

I swear that sometimes I get the feeling that the performance figures were put out by Pravda and that recording anything negative about aircraft produced by the glorious workers of the people's paradise was considered aiding the enemy and resulted in a quick trip to Siberia. 

Do you think the Russians would say the same about the F4U-4's performance numbers being from Stars and Stripes?

Given the severe design decisions on things like fuel and ordnance, is it completely unimaginable that a clean airframe with an 1800hp engine might be high performance when built correctly?

[gyrene81]

Is there any actual USAAF test data on the La-7 (like they have with captured German or Japanese equipment)?? 

sorry man but, what good would that do? a u.s. pilot couldn't read the gauges and they sure wouldn't put the plane through as rigorous a test as they would one that was made in the u.s....too afraid of damaging it.

[GScholz]

If a Russian WWII design can compete with US and British late-war/post-war monsters at reno...

Team Steadfast flies a Yak-3U, a Yak-3 with the La-7s engine bolted on the front.

Seriously fast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBS4jnlb6vI

In pole position last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJSe_gVGm8Q

[SmokinLoon]

If a Russian WWII design can compete with US and British late-war/post-war monsters at reno...

Team Steadfast flies a Yak-3U, a Yak-3 with the La-7s engine bolted on the front.

Seriously fast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBS4jnlb6vI

In pole position last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJSe_gVGm8Q

... and there is nothing stock about any of that.  Take a few grease monkeys, machinists, and typical engineers, and a host of grinders, lathes, tools, etc, and some money and any engine/airframe can be made to perform and shine beyond what it was designed to do. 

If HTC changes the La7's performance to a more historically accurate model, I can already hear the cries and kicking and screaming by the La7 fanboi's.  Poor things.   

[GScholz]

If HTC changes the La7's performance to a more historically accurate model...

So, you're claiming the current model isn't historically accurate. Please present your case, and provide documentation.