LA7 Usage: WWII vs. AH

[DmonSlyr]

Well actually, on paper the LA7 holds the performance advantage below 12k. To truly determine which is the "Better Fighter" you must look at how many mission profiles each can satisfy and how effective they are relative to the other.

Falsely establishing that two aircraft are equal and it just depends on the pilot (when in reality one aircraft outperforms the other when flown correctly) can be the difference between months of frustration (and perhaps even a cancelled subscription) and a eureka moment. This is especially true for new players who are still learning.

These are both true, as well as, the F4U and La7 are flown for 2 completely different situations. Upping a F4U1A to defend your base from high attackers is stupid, while upping a La7 to attack a base 30 Miles away is stupid because of the gas.. Even though it still would be effective in killing. You will find most LAs at medium to low alt fights and most F4Us will be 10-20k on when you find them, unless off the CV. However, off the CV the F4U is good if you can gain alt over the base defenders.

The hardest part about the F4U is staying fast and not becoming a deck peddler trying to escape the fight. In a F4U, if you are stuck on the deck with lots of high cons around, you aren't gonna have a fun time nor are you going to get away. The SA in the F4U is much more important to not give up position for an easy pick.

[Scca]

I'm simply interested in putting theories to test and finding the one that prevails. If you contradict data with an opinion, you should be able to objectively prove it. That is, if you're interested in discussion and learning and becoming a better pilot (which I am interested in these things). If you're just interested in repeating your own opinion, however, with no ability to back it up with first-hand performance, then that's a completely different scenario. Sort of like the guy who claims he caught a 50lb bass, but has no pictures, witnesses, proof, or anything else.

Falsely establishing that two aircraft are equal and it just depends on the pilot (when in reality one aircraft outperforms the other when flown correctly) can be the difference between months of frustration (and perhaps even a cancelled subscription) and a eureka moment. This is especially true for new players who are still learning.

It also helps to improve one's game. As Violator mentioned, the F4U is pretty much outclassed on equal footing. However, with an altitude advantage, it evens things out. Understanding (and actually acknowledging) this fact in turn helps you develop tactics for success instead of repeating the same mistakes over and over, thinking "oh I'm just losing because my opponent plays more" (when in reality, you're losing because you're flying wrong).

I agreed with you, what more do you want?

Ignoring however that no matter what you fly, tactics and experience can blow away all the advantage you may have because you are flying the invincible LALA, is also a reason for frustration in the game, and IMHO, a larger source of frustration than whatever perceived advantage you have due to plane choice. 

[Skyyr]

I agreed with you, what more do you want?

Ignoring however that no matter what you fly, tactics and experience can blow away all the advantage you may have because you are flying the invincible LALA, is also a reason for frustration in the game, and IMHO, a larger source of frustration than whatever perceived advantage you have due to plane choice.

The LA isn't invincible. It's only invincible to those who don't know how to fight them, or where to fight them at.

[Scca]

The LA isn't invincible. It's only invincible to those who don't know how to fight them, or where to fight them at.

Thanks for making my point 

[icepac]

A yak 9 at co-energy but with even a slight bit of altitude advantage can run down a LA7......if he's gone through his WEP.

[Widewing]

A yak 9 at co-energy but with even a slight bit of altitude advantage can run down a LA7......if he's gone through his WEP.

Why would you want to catch it? If the La-7 pilot is any good at all, he'll just turn around and kill the Yak.

[Oldman731]

Why would you want to catch it? If the La-7 pilot is any good at all, he'll just turn around and kill the Yak.

I'm finding that the 9U v La7 is a pretty good fight.

- oldman

[Schwalbee]

My input on the la7 in AH seems tat it may be a bit over modeled(over performing) in my experiences in it and fighting against it. Flying against it for years in other flight sims before coming to AH,it seems to maintain E and hold onto way to well when going into a low speed climb. La was known to have quite nasty stall behaviour at low speeds and a pretty high stall speed relative to planes such as the yak 3,but in AH it seems like to retain too much E. Maybe it just seems like it for me since I am new to AH physics and way of flight compared to other sims I am used to flying. <S>

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[save]

Depends what plane you fight the 3-gun La-7 in.

Taking away that 3rd gun does not make it a worse plane, just less accurate (nose gun most accurate), and brings less led in a burst.
As an un-perked bird it deserves 2-guns and if you chose a perked LA-7 you get 3.

The LA isn't invincible. It's only invincible to those who don't know how to fight them, or where to fight them at.

[pipz]

Why would you want to catch it? If the La-7 pilot is any good at all, he'll just turn around and kill the Yak.

Because he might not be any good and ya just want to give it a go? <shrugs>

[Widewing]

I'm finding that the 9U v La7 is a pretty good fight.

- oldman

It depends on the skill level of the pilots. With equal pilots, the Yak is in trouble unless he has a big E advantage at the outset. Even then, the La-7 can turn the table pretty quick. Better acceleration and climb, combined with a smaller turn radius, better low speed stability and greater E retention. If the Yak doesn't win quickly, it dies eventually.

I've found in gozillions of duels that the 109G-2, F4U-4, and the Spit16 and Spit8 are best against the La-7 in 1v1 fights.

[Widewing]

My input on the la7 in AH seems tat it may be a bit over modeled(over performing) in my experiences in it and fighting against it. Flying against it for years in other flight sims before coming to AH,it seems to maintain E and hold onto way to well when going into a low speed climb. La was known to have quite nasty stall behaviour at low speeds and a pretty high stall speed relative to planes such as the yak 3,but in AH it seems like to retain too much E. Maybe it just seems like it for me since I am new to AH physics and way of flight compared to other sims I am used to flying. <S>

Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Players have been saying this since I can remember, and I've been here a long time....

[bozon]

A yak 9 at co-energy but with even a slight bit of altitude advantage can run down a LA7......if he's gone through his WEP.

Somehow Yaks had no limits on their engine operations and thus, in AH they get their "WEP equivallent performance" 100% of the time.
I wonder if it really were the Yaks or the Russians that had no limits on engine operation.

These are both true, as well as, the F4U and La7 are flown for 2 completely different situations. Upping a F4U1A to defend your base from high attackers is stupid, while upping a La7 to attack a base 30 Miles away is stupid because of the gas.

The La7 has a much better range than what people think. If it cruised those 30 miles into combat at the same speed as the F4U (i.e. much reduced RPM/throttle) it would have a staying time close to that of the F4U (without the wing tanks). The range of the F4U without wing or drop tanks is not very impressive. Most La pilots think it is best to travel to the combat zone with the throttle firewalled and at casual speeds that make some other planes compress.

[BaldEagl]

The La's are fun to fly (at least the 5 is) but the guns suck.  Who cares if the La-7 has three cannons?  They suck.  Taters are easier to hit with.  I'd put the 20mm ShVAK just above the dreaded 20mm MG-FF's.

Not many other aircraft really have that ability to excel in both types of fights AND transition between them so easily.

Maybe slowing down.  Speeding up?  Not so much.

[artik]

Somehow Yaks had no limits on their engine operations and thus, in AH they get their "WEP equivallent performance" 100% of the time.
I wonder if it really were the Yaks or the Russians that had no limits on engine operation.

It is question of operation. Even Merlin can operate at 100% just it severely limits its resource, same for most engine.

AFAIR ASh-82 (La-5/La-7s engine) was actually certified to operate on 100% without shortening its resource.

I'll give you an example. Russian operated P-40s with Alison engine, especially early models/periods the engine "died" after about 35 to 50 hours instead of rated 120. Why? Russians pushed it to the limits and it begin to disintegrate early. I assume they did similar with Yaks.

They tried to squeeze the best they can from limited platforms, P-40C had flown without wing mounted .30 cals, only two  cowl mounted .50 cals. This way they reduced weight and improved roll. P-40E was flown with 4x.50 cal instead of 6. (P-39s were flown without wing guns as well).

This way they can keep them flying when rest of the allies considered them outdated.

(Source: memories of Golodnikov 7 kill ace that had flown: I-16, Hurricane, P-40s, P-39s, Yak-1/7/9 for 2nd GIAP)


BTW, in AH if you fly Yak-3 100% all the time your range is significantly reduced. I almost never fly Yak-1 at 100% at transition times, only at climbout and combat.