I highly suggest people start to fly the Yak-9U to get a feel for what the -3 is going to be like. The -3 isn't going to be that much different. It is still going to carry 120 rounds of 20mm and 250 rds of .50 cal. Not a lot of firepower at all. As it is, the Yak-9U can hold its own vs a P51 in every way except ord and firepower. The Yak-9U can do anything any of the Spitfires can performance. Most people don't even know the -9U is a 400 mph plane at 15k. I think people are getting too caught up in the vs 109K-4 comparison when for the MA it should be more compared to the P51 because it behaves far more like a P51 than a 109.
I'm not at all giddy over the -3 being added, however I am happy to see the Yak be remodeled.

I wonder if HTC is going to retire the 9T and 9U?