Lets talk Yak-3.

[Rich46yo]

1, So what other non-Yak planes do you think have similar performance that the 3 will have?

2, What will be the epic match ups vs the Yak-3?

3, Describe how you think they will turn vs other fighters?

4, What will be going thru your mind when you encounter one?

5, Will it have the same ENY as the 9U ?

Beauty aint she?

[SmokinLoon]

1, So what other non-Yak planes do you think have similar performance that the 3 will have?

2, What will be the epic match ups vs the Yak-3?

3, Describe how you think they will turn vs other fighters?

4, What will be going thru your mind when you encounter one?

5, Will it have the same ENY as the 9U ?

Beauty aint she?
(Image removed from quote.)

Um... go fly the -9U and %95 the answers will be had.  The -3 offers Spitfire 8 like maneuverability, speed similar to the P51x, and the firepower of a 109G-2 (but with 1/3rd less ammo).  There are many that are going to be disappointed that is isn't going to be the next uber-plane.  To sum it up: it will be easy to fly and difficult to knock down other planes.   

[Ack-Ack]

To sum it up: it will be easy to fly and difficult to knock down other planes.   

The difficulty in shooting down other planes will be a result of the player's skill level and abilities, not the plane.

ack-ack

[Charge]

With 1300hp power and wingloading not much different from 9U so I'm not expecting performance much different from 9U.

Somehow I feel that due to its wing design it is not a stellar stall fighter but will be excellent in medium speed fights, as the 9U is.

It looks like a Yak. Yuck.

-C+

[morfiend]

With 1300hp power and wingloading not much different from 9U so I'm not expecting performance much different from 9U.

Somehow I feel that due to its wing design it is not a stellar stall fighter but will be excellent in medium speed fights, as the 9U is.

-C+

 Ya I'd agree though it is slightly lighter so it may accelerate faster and with those slightly shorter wings it may roll quicker which should give it some nice agility.


  Oh and firepower would be on par with the G6 not the G2 with 1/3 less ammo or exactly the same as the 9U.....



   

[Karnak]

Speed, turn and acceleration are likely to be very similar to the Yak-9U, but as it is a smaller and lighter aircraft it may be more responsive and roll faster as well as being harder to hit.  Contrary to what was posted earlier, its firepower will be better than the Bf109G-2 due to the two 12.7mm guns in place of the 7.92mm guns.  The ammo load will be small though.

As to what I think of it, nasty customer if I am in a Mossie as it holds most of the cards.

[Randy1]

The one in the picture has no head armor. The Russian planes tend to have no behind the head armor.  I wonder if that is figured into the damage model?

[Karnak]

The one in the picture has no head armor. The Russian planes tend to have no behind the head armor.  I wonder if that is figured into the damage model?

Yak-3 lacks a bullet proof windscreen, but like the Yak-9s and Lavochkins it has armor protecting the pilot from behind.  They use armored glass rather than the steel plates of the USA, UK, German and Japan so as to provide better views to the rear.

[Rich46yo]

Its significantly light. How will that effect its acceleration?

[Karnak]

Its significantly light. How will that effect its acceleration?

Climb rate is excess thrust which makes it an pretty good substitute for acceleration.  While the Yak-3 is lighter than the Yak-9U it also has a less powerful engine.  The climb rate reported by Wikipedia (yes, I know, but I don't have another source for the Yak-3) is 3,645fpm, which is very, very close to what AH shows the Yak-9U's initial climb rate to be.  Those both being true the Yak-3 can be expected to accelerate pretty much the same as the Yak-9U and much better than the Yak-9T.

[SmokinLoon]

The difficulty in shooting down other planes will be a result of the player's skill level and abilities, not the plane.

ack-ack

BULLCHIT.  Tell me a person isn't going to have a MUCH easier time shooting down an enemy fighter while in a george vs while in a 109F/G or Yak-9U (think single 20mm and dual .50 cals).  Sure, the ability to aim properly is key, but the ability to rip apart a plane is another.  A Yak-9U/-3 needs a longer time on target because of the lack of RPM's and the lack of volume.  Funny that the "aces" in AH are not using the -9U vs the Spit's, P51's, and La7's???  I mean really, the -9U is quite capable except for 1 thing: firepower (it doesn't have it).  The Yak-9U (and -3) do not have the "hit hard" capability and they certainly do not have the ability to sustain what firepower they do have for very long.    

The plane allows the pilot to do certain things more so than the pilot allows the plane to do certain things, otherwise the spectrum would far more level than it is.  Do not fool yourself in to thinking that the single 20mm and dual .50cals with their low ammo count is just as effective as a 190A-5/8 with the quad 20mm's, a Spit 8's dual 20mm's and quad .30 cals, or even the 6/.50's on a US fighter.  Unless the Yak is able to saddle up and hang on like a gay man riding a mechanical bull until the target plane has blown all of its E, the Yak is at a distinct disadvantage.  

[Oldman731]

Unless the Yak is able to saddle up and hang on like a gay man riding a mechanical bull until the target plane has blown all of its E, the Yak is at a distinct disadvantage.  

Picturesque, but probably accurate.  I expect that the Yak 3 will be able to do this, just as the 9U already can.

...but....are you implying that Yak Attackers are something less than manly...?

- oldman

[WWhiskey]

It's really small   and hard to hit!!!!!!

[Saxman]

It's really small   and hard to hit!!!!!!

You've got to keep your personal problems off the board, man.

[SmokinLoon]

...but....are you implying that Yak Attackers are something less than manly...?
- oldman

Not at all.  In fact I would expect the best of the best to be in such aircraft since their gunnery skillz are uberz yo.  but alas... it is too much of a challenge thanks to a lack of firepower and lack of sustained firepower.  Anyone who has ever spent time in the -9U knows that it can hang with any plane out there in maneuvers, it truly is an impressive aircraft.  Seriously though, 400 mph at 15k, the turn radius, climb, and acceleration of a typical MA Spitfire (Spit 9/8/16), a very good roll rate, a great pilot view, etc, but yet it has the punch of wet paper bag (and no available ordnance).