Lets talk Yak-3.

[Debrody]

what? if the speed in ah is accurate, it should do 407mph at around 13,500ft and the g-6 only does around 398mph at 21,500ft. seems pretty fast to me.

I didnt know much about the speed curve - 407 at 13.5k is good enough. But above that? (true, thats about to be at the sweet spot for AH's tipical engagements)

Could someone dig the deck speed, please?

[bozon]

I cannot see how the Yak-3 will be very different from the 9U except in nuances. Our 9U is an amazing platform that is very much under appreciated because its slow speed handling is difficult. This, coupled with the weak gun package and limiting forward view tend to make it a teeth-less shark for many players - difficult to slow down + saddle up, and difficulty in snapshot kills.

Oh yes, short legs too for those who have not yet discovered that such a plane does not have to fly at full throttle (WEP equivalent) 100% of the time.

The improved forward view and perhaps slightly better slow speed handling will go a long way in increasing its popularity. Both 3 and 9U can be sweet rides for those that figure out the gun package.

[bustr]

Lets wait and see the new Yak 9u cockpit forward view. Maybe the view will resolve slightly better with AH2 current gen graphics.

[Wmaker]

Comparing Yak-3 to the Yak-9U:

The speed difference depends on the data used. It is true that according to one dataset the difference is only 6mph (351mph vs 357mph). A serial production Yak-3 was taken from the production line for testing and it did 345mph on the deck.

*The power out puts listed are "at altitude", not at sea level.


Both wingloadings and powerloadings are very close to each other. Both use similar props, and identical airfoils (Clark YH 14% at the root and 10% at the tip.) and very similar wing planforms. How it will compare to the rest of the planeset depends largely on whether Pyro updates the Yak flight models in general.

[Debrody]

Comparing Yak-3 to the Yak-9U:
...

Good stuff, thanks.
The Yak-9 flies weirdly compared to the rest of the planeset, guessing, thats the decade-old flight model. It will surely change, but the main parameters are likely to remain the same, or something simmilar.
~350 mph on the deck is a LOT, considering that the 1350hp 109F only does 333, and even the 1700 (?) hp clipped wing spit16 tops out at 344.

[Karnak]

Yakolev put a lot of effort into minimizing drag on the Yak-3, but that did involve compromises such as the aerodynamic front windscreen that is not armored.  I'd be nervous attacking a bomber in a Yak-3 as the pilot has the same protection as the pilot of an A6M2 from the front.

EDIT:

I've seen a drag profile for a Spitfire somewhere and that flat, armored windscreen created a lot of drag.  I am sure the Bf109's does the same.  The Bomber Mossie's with the unarmored V shaped windscreen had significantly less drag from the cockpit than did the fighter Mossies with the big, flat armored and optically flat windscreens.

[Debrody]

As long as a single 30-cal round from a Lancaster can instantly pilot kill a 262 from the front, straight through its "bulletproof" windscreen, everything is possible 

By the way, pretty much what i was thinking about, that Yak must have been very well streamlined - not sure how it affected its handling characteristics.

[Rich46yo]

I agree the Yak-9U is "under appreciated". I myself would name it the best bang for the buck perk-wise as it is very survivable in. And Im not just talking "stretching out". It seems to be a high eny plane that very often has some advantage that can be exploited against similar or even much lower eny opponents. Most of all the P-51D. But it does well against everything as long as you dont get low and slow in it.

[bozon]

I've seen a drag profile for a Spitfire somewhere and that flat, armored windscreen created a lot of drag.  I am sure the Bf109's does the same.  The Bomber Mossie's with the unarmored V shaped windscreen had significantly less drag from the cockpit than did the fighter Mossies with the big, flat armored and optically flat windscreens.

I don't know about that. When the P-47s were switched from the birdcage with the split front screen to bubble top the claim was that added drag was negligible. The lowering of the razorback probably had a larger effect on the drag and even that was not much. Compare our D11 and D25 MIL power speeds, and here the D25 even includes drag from the fixed wing shackles.

[BoilerDown]

Lets wait and see the new Yak 9u cockpit forward view. Maybe the view will resolve slightly better with AH2 current gen graphics.

This.  And for the Yak 3 of course.  That is the biggest handicap to flying the Yak-9, even moreso than the tiny ammo count.  If the Yak-3 flies similarly or better, and has a better under the crosshairs view, it will be a killer.

[Tilt]

The other key difference between the 3 and the 9U is mass. How would we expect them to perform ( comparatively) during changes in direction due to reversals of control surface state?

[Scotty55OEFVet]

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

ack-ack

You couldn't be more right! Lol, I have been gone for a very long time but I was starting to fly the Yak a lot more before I left and I was one of the few who asked for the other versions of the Yak. With the limited amount of ammo it is imperative that you get in nice and close and just put a nice burst into that bad red guy.

[Rich46yo]

Im wondering with Yak fever growing how many non-Yakkers will now become Yakkers now that the 3 is shortly to be here.

I suspect the Yak-3 will win over much of the 20 eny+ crowd. Those of us who get incredibly bored flying 51's, Spit 16s, LA7s, and other brain dead low eny aircraft. One thing the Yak-9 needed was a little bit of turn to make it even better. Just like the 9 I expect the 3 to always have at least one trait that can be exploited against any adversary.

I expect the Yak-3 will become my main ride. Dudes I so wish it was here already.

[jeffdn]

I suspect the Yak-3 will win over much of the 20 eny+ crowd. Those of us who get incredibly bored flying 51's, Spit 16s, LA7s, and other brain dead low eny aircraft. One thing the Yak-9 needed was a little bit of turn to make it even better. Just like the 9 I expect the 3 to always have at least one trait that can be exploited against any adversary.

I like that it has a similar gun setup/layout to the 109s, which I fly most regularly. I have a feeling I'll really like the Yak-3.

[Eric19]

been flying the yak9u for about 2 days that thing handles great I don't mind the small ammo count at all in it its enough for 2 or 3 kills and normally you run out of fuel before you run out of ammo in that thing if you know how to aim with the 20mm anyways I can't wait for the update it looks sexy nice job HTC