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

[Bruv119]

Seems like the P-51 and 190D should be perked long before the Lala...  

(Image removed from quote.)

amazing how no Spitfires feature in that list.   Maybe raise the ENY of them...

Also confirms the B38 as being a "victim"   

[GScholz]

Only flown it a few times and found it pretty sweet even over

A lot of "low altitude birds" still fly well up high.

The La-7's best speed is 410 mph at 20k. Between 8k and 18k is is roughly equal to a P-51D in climb/acceleration, but the Pony has a 15-20 mph speed advantage. Below 8k the Lala holds all the cards vs a Pony. Above 18k the Pony dominates.

[Lusche]

amazing how no Spitfires feature in that list.

1. The spitfire usage distributes a bit more evenly over several models, compared with for example the 51, where the D get's about 90% of the usage
2. The Spit 16 get's really a lot of usage, but it's K/D is comparatively low.

Also confirms the B38 as being a "victim"   

The L model is, because it's mostly used as a mindless tool of base smashing and not as a fighter. In contrast the J is one of the bigger killers and only barely missed the entry as such on that list.

[bozon]

Also confirms the B38 as being a "victim"   

The L model is, because it's mostly used as a mindless tool of base smashing and not as a fighter. In contrast the J is one of the bigger killers and only barely missed the entry as such on that list.

It is absolutely shameful how the L is being treated. A fighter with so much unused potential. I have seen many P-38 raids - it seems like they do not even expect to survive. Few things scare me more than a higher P-38 with a good player behind the wheel. In this case it actually is a wheel... or a yoke... but doesn't yoke come out of an egg? 
I have not ran into a well flown 38 in a long while. Only a handful of dedicated 38 guys are still around.
Shame.

[mechanic]

I love the La7, it's a real monster and good at almost everything.

The La7 is to the K4 what the La5 is to the g6/g14. Both are excellent aircraft but really, the La7 wins hands down for an all round dog fighter. Better guns, better power.

The biggest mistake people make in the la7 is not turn fighting with it. A high speed La7 is just an annoyance, a pest to be avoided and occasionally swatted when the chance arises. Once you realise that the lala can turn fight you become dangerous.

[GScholz]

La-7 does not have "better power" than the La-5FN. Same engine, same power output. They cleaned up the La-5FN's aerodynamics, and made some parts out of metal instead of wood to make the La-7 lighter. It's not really a "new" aircraft and there were fewer changes between the La-5FN and La-7 than between the P-51B and P-51D.

[Lusche]

The La-7 is ENY 5
The La-5FN is ENY 30

[GScholz]

Yup... A very slight increase in climb at low alt due to being a bit lighter and a solid improvement in speed due to less drag.

[palef]

I shoulda posted years ago then....................

Thread dredge this is.

Outrage it is.

[mechanic]

La-7 does not have "better power" than the La-5FN. Same engine, same power output. They cleaned up the La-5FN's aerodynamics, and made some parts out of metal instead of wood to make the La-7 lighter. It's not really a "new" aircraft and there were fewer changes between the La-5FN and La-7 than between the P-51B and P-51D.

Ok, better power/weight ratio. My wording was not careful, thank you.

You can certainly feel the difference in a vertical stall fight. It is very easy to feel that the La7 has considerably more nose up ability when slow.

[Aspen]

And an extra pew pew tube

[GScholz]

Ok, better power/weight ratio.

The weight difference is not really that significant. As you can see from the climb chart above the increase in climb/acceleration is very slight.

[mechanic]

You perhaps don't fight on the edge of a low speed stall enough to notice the difference?

I know what I'm talking about through hands on experience. The La7 is a UFO, the La5 falls just short of that status and is just a good performing aircraft.

[GScholz]

What you "feel" is often very subjective and rarely holds up to to the hard facts of reality, but yes the La-7 is about 400 lbs lighter, which I will amend, is not insignificant in a stall fight.

[mechanic]

What you "feel" is often very subjective and rarely holds up to to the hard facts of reality, but yes the La-7 is about 400 lbs lighter, which I will amend, is not insignificant in a stall fight.

You are suggesting that in my ~10,000 hours of AH experience my 'feelings' about how a plane handles are wrong?


Putting all your faith in the 'hard facts of reality' often limits your ability to 'feel' anything other than what you think you know through studying the numbers. This method of learning leads to a lack of innovation or style, much like watching the AI fly.

The very best dogfighters in this game never looked at a speed chart. You will never be in that category if you limit yourself with the 'hard facts' on paper.