I agree with Leonid, I don't remember the Yak-3 as having bad roll, not great like a 190, but not real bad either.
Why wasn't it popular in WB's? Weak guns, and small ammo load had alot to do with it, especially in the world of the Spitfire Mk-UFO (thank God we dont' have that here). Honestly though, I think it was more the fact that it being a Russian plane, and most of our pilots are American, British, and then the Luftwobbles
it just doesn't have that "nationalistic mystique" that draws many of us to planes like the P-51, P-38, Fw190, or the Me109.
To me the Yak-3 was my favorite plane. Sure you might not win every fight due to the weak guns, but it was rare that you couldn't get home to complete a sortie if you flew smart.
A couple of difference's between the Yak-3 and what I expect to see out of the Yak-9U. For one the -9 is considerably larger than the -3, more in proportion to other fighters, so it won't be that infamous minature target the -3 is. But on the plus side, the -9 has larger wings so I expect it too manuever better than the -3.
Like Leonid, I really hope that Pyro includes the -UT armament options (around 500 -UT's produced, of the total 4,000 -U's manufactured). It would really allow the Yak to compete lethality wise with the rest of the cannon birds in the arena, and only knocks off about 3-4mph off the top speed.
It would still have a very small ammo load (no spray and pray -1C or 190 here), but with all the guns being mounted in the nose it would allow you a good kill if you can get it on target.
I don't think I would personally have much use for the x1 NS-37 + x2 B-20's setup, just too much weight and too hard to hit with the 37mm. But I believe both the x1 NS-23 + x2 B-20's, or the x3 B-20's, setup would be quite useful. With my preference going to the 23mm option, since it is more lethal.
Guess we shall wait and see
"And Death shall ride a Pale Horse..."
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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure
Carpe Jugulum
"Real Men fly Radials, Nancy Boys fly Spitfires"
