Originally posted by Urchin
The La-7 is as fast (something like 1-2 mph slower or faster) than the F4U-4. It accelerates better, climbs better. As far as I know, it turns better.
However, the F4U-4 will bleed off its speed a lot faster, and unlike most of the F4U's it actually has the acceleration to get it back, so your best bet is a hard turn (to bleed off speed and get him off of your immediate 6), followed by a barrel roll to force the overshoot. Furthermore, you can drop your gear in the F4U to slow down even faster. If the La-7 is flown halfway competently, you'll go from being at a direct disadvantage (1 la-7 700 yards behind you) to being at a more nuetral/disadvantage with the La-7 above you and faster. You can work with this position to stay nuetral, and jump on the La-7 if he screws up. If it is flown incompetently, he'll be to fast to stay behind you, but to slow to run away before you kill him.
In the MA I fly the La-5 a lot, and the La-7 a little. It turns very well between 250 and 150 mph. Get slower than that and a less careful pilot can run afoul of its lousy departure characteristics, and flaps out only postpones the inevitable snap-stall if you keep pushing it. On the other hand, the F4U-4 has far more forgiving handling at very low speeds. So, if you get the La-7 to commit to stall fight, the Corsair has the edge. But, that's a big if.
Seriously complicating this scenario was the trailing Spitfire, making a low-speed brawl a poor option.
Now, with the advantage of hindsight, here's what I would have done.
Continue running along on the deck. The longer you do this, the further the Spitfire falls behind. Getting the Spitfire out of the equation is key here. Being nearly 50 mph slower on the deck, the Spit pilot's attention span is likely too short to follow very long while the other two disappear into the distance. If he decides to quit, that problem is solved. If he doesn't quit, at least you have bought some time before you have to deal with him.
Once you have optimized you situation, I suggest you follow Urchin's suggestion. Most La-7 drivers don't even consider throttle management. They firewall it, hit WEP and keep there. Forcing an overshoot shouldn't be difficult, as long as you provide the least advantageous target by barrel rolling as many times as needed, while getting the plane dirtied up (flaps down, gear down if need be). Just don't miss your opportunity when he blows on by.
My regards,
Widewing