Karnak,
I agree that the La-7 is ONE of the best, but I don't think it is THE best. It takes a good pilot in order to really exploit the La7 to its full potential where some other planes can be thrown around the sky and still do well. I don't think the La7 can do that or it will not be very effective.
Look at the La-7s advantages:
Speed: It is the fastest non-perked aircraft at AH combat altitudes, only slightly slower than the 70 point Tempest.
Acceleration: The La-7 is one of the best accelerators in the game.
Guns: 3 20mm cannon are enough firepower to kill anything quickly.
Zoom climb: The La-7 will zoom climb with anything.
Instantaneos turn: This is the only kind of turn a fast plane needs.
Durable: The La-7 is one of the toughest fighters in AH.
Disadvantages:
Guns: The trajectory isn't very good on the cannons.
Nasty stall: When turning its stall is abrupt and hard.
Fuel range: Very short laegs and no droptanks available.
Speed: It is actually BARELY faster than a number of aircraft on the deck which are all considered good rides. The 190D9, 109G10, Typhoon (ok, not great), P51D, and Tempest all are within only a small amount of total speed. Add 5K of alt in and they pretty much are all even, by 10K all are ahead except the Typhoon. Most fights in AH end up low, but start out at up to about 15K. Only the furballs start out lower than that and any fight that is at less than 1000ft typically is a turnfight, where the La7 certainly doesn't excel.
Acceleration: Agreed, it really can pick up speed quickly. So can the 190D9. A nice thing to have, but not enough to get you away from a number of good accelerators in the lower speed ranges (if you get slow). It works against N1K's and Spits though since they top out in speed so quickly as compared to an La7 down low.
Guns: They aren't nearly as good at snapshots as one might think. Things often squeek through without a scratch since most snapshots have to occur so close that it's tough to judge them perfectly. Playing the BnZ game with it, and trying to snapshot up close, leads to a lot of collisions, or near collisions.
Zoom Climb: You're probably right, it can zoom with anything in the game. There are a couple that zoom pretty close though. It can't zoom and hang there though like a N1K or Spit. Once at the top you'd better get yourself back picking up speed.
Instantaneous turn: It's very good, but so are a number of other planes. I don't notice it superior to some others.
Damage Tolerance: It can take a hit, but having only 1 fuel tank tends to cause problems. Once you spring a leak (which happens often to even .303 fire) you are pretty much outta luck. You'll have 30 seconds more fuel and then you are a glider. It also seems to lose wingtips easily though it is possible to fly it without one (to some extent at least).
I admit, I fly a lot of La7 and I like it because it is a great plane for killing P51's, N1K's, Hogs, and Spits down low. At mid alt though (say between 10 and 20K) it isn't all that great and many common rides are better (the P51, 190 and 109's come to mind). It's best for slashing attacks, but there are others that are just as good at that and have been guns.
-Soda
