The only reason the La-7 is better than the Spitfire Mk XIV or Ta152H-1 is because of the typical AH combat altitude, eg, low. The La-7 is optimized for low altitude work and that is where the vast majority of combat in AH takes place. The Spitfire Mk XIV and Ta152H-1 are optimized for high altitude combat, where practically no fighting occurs in AH.
This does kind of lead one to wonder why they are perked and the La-7 is not.
I did manage to drag an La-7 up to 25,000ft while flying the Spitfire Mk XIV once. After a few positional manuvers he realized how badly outclassed he was and put is nose down and out accelerated me towards the deck. Dang but that thing dives fast, although he did ge the jump on me in diving by a good 4-5 seconds.
Too bad to, I'd have had him in another 15 seconds.