I just came back after a few months sabbatical.I noticed the blog on the Yak3,and I decided to give it a try.In my opinion it would be perked if it wasn't for it's short clip!I have to sqrew up really bad to get killed in it,which I'm perfectly capable of!I will probably fly it 90% of the time,as it makes the game fun for me,and makes me very conservative with my shot selection!All of you naysayers that think the Yak3 is over modeled,just look at the Brewster,Me163,and a lot of others that flying way above their real life ability!
Short clip AND short legs, AND no ord, AND poor low speed roll, poor low speed torque effects, barely useful flaps that only pop at 150...
Other than target profile and a little speed, the Spit 16 still holds all the cards. The LA7 offers speed and firepower at least a couple notches above the Yak3 and is not perked. Even late model 109s can give it a run for its money on the deck turning where the -3 is strongest due to fowler flaps at 200(?) and better stability. Above 10k, climb is still decent but with notable decrease in turn performance.
Overall I think it is a potent but fairly awkward bird to fly.
1. It doesn't have uber turn characteristics to survive TnB vs Zekes, Brews or Spits. It is competitive with the Ki-84 and N1K before flaps factor in however.
2. It doesn't have the speed to get away from the Pony, Typhs, K4s and Doras.
3. It does climb well at low alt making it a good energy fighter and is best flown like a jug; however it lacks good elevator authority at speed and has insufficient firepower and ammo to consistently make high speed snapshots.
I also suspect that the damage model got nerfed with the last patch. What was comparable to the FM2 in toughness now seems more in the range of a Pony, which is probably where it belongs anyway.
It's a very good plane and I've flown it more than any other this tour but 18 ENY is about right...