OK...so who flies the LA-7?

[GScholz]

Right.  I'd argue that speed is one of the ways we feel power...

The argument is over the perceived difference in low speed stall fighting and climb.

[GScholz]

10/10 for style  

Yay! 

[Triton28]

The argument is over the perceived difference in low speed stall fighting and climb.

There's no increased acceleration with the LA7 over the LA5?

[Lusche]

There's no increased acceleration with the LA7 over the LA5?

Only significant at high speeds (say 250+) due to the better aerodynamics of the La-7. In a stall fight, the accelerations are about identical. Same power, same mass.

[GScholz]

There's no increased acceleration with the LA7 over the LA5?

At low speed, no. The difference is negligible. Easy way to judge relative acceleration is looking at climb rates. Climb rate and acceleration is directly linked. After all, climbing is just vertical acceleration. The best climbing aircraft will always have the best acceleration at low (climbing) speed.

[DmonSlyr]

The difference is not negligable! In a slow fight 10-20 Mph can make a huge difference. The planes do not fly the same and it's obvious the la7 handles E and retains E better all around than the la5.

[pipz]

The argument is over the perceived difference in low speed stall fighting and climb.

And here I thought it was a discussion................... .Ive been too nice......  

[mechanic]

At low speed, no. The difference is negligible. Easy way to judge relative acceleration is looking at climb rates. Climb rate and acceleration is directly linked. After all, climbing is just vertical acceleration. The best climbing aircraft will always have the best acceleration at low (climbing) speed.

Best way to judge is to actually fly them. Have you flown either of them at all since the last update to the lavochkins?

[GScholz]

Both. I can't find any discernible difference in their stall fighting abilities.

[GScholz]

The difference is not negligable! In a slow fight 10-20 Mph can make a huge difference. The planes do not fly the same and it's obvious the la7 handles E and retains E better all around than the la5.

They have the same stall speed. Top speed is limited by parasitic drag. Stall speed is limited by lift, weight and induced drag. The last is equal for both aircraft. Only at higher speeds, like the 250 mph Lusche suggested, would the lower parasitic drag of the La-7 start having a significant effect.

[Lusche]

The difference is not negligable! In a slow fight 10-20 Mph can make a huge difference. The planes do not fly the same and it's obvious the la7 handles E and retains E better all around than the la5.

There is no such a difference in  slow speed acceleration. Both planes are accelerating from 150 to 200 in virtually the same time, just under 8 seconds. After 10 seconds, the La5 is at 207 mph, the La7 at 210. After 30 seconds (which is a damn long time in combat), the La5 reaches 279 mph vs La7 285 mph.

Tested by film viewer at SL and 50% fuel.


If my math doesn't fail on me (which is very much possible, please feel free to check it), after 10 seconds the La-7 gains something like 25 feet, 50 feet after 20 seconds and around 75 feet after 30 seconds.

Above that, the La-7's better aerodynamics really coems into play and it's pulling away at an increasing rate. But no one ever disputed that.

[GScholz]

The differences are well within the margins of error.

[mechanic]

 Why can't you guys stop talking about those two charts? Acceleration is not the question. They do not describe how the plane handles.

Are the models in AH exactly the same aerodynamically?

[Lusche]

I am talking abut how the plane feels to fly. Why can't you stop talking about those two charts? They do not describe how the plane handles.

If you actually care to read what's been written, you will see that the acceleration topic was brought back in by someone else.

There's no increased acceleration with the LA7 over the LA5?

At low speed, no. The difference is negligible.

The difference is not negligable! In a slow fight 10-20 Mph can make a huge difference.

[mechanic]

If you actually care to read what's been written, you will see that the acceleration topic was brought back in by someone else.

no. The comment you quoted has far more to do with handling than acceleration

The difference is not negligable! In a slow fight 10-20 Mph can make a huge difference. The planes do not fly the same and it's obvious the la7 handles E and retains E better all around than the la5.