Yak-1b, first impressions

[=CFC=Conky]

Haven't seen a thread on this yet.

 

I've flown it a bit offline and I find it very pleasant to fly, a bit of a hot rod, certainly faster the the other Yak. i haven't really wrung it out yet but I'm happy with it so far and glad I purchased it.

 

Good hunting,

Conky

[Gambit21]

What are guys doing with the radiators? Way back when with the other Yak I'd worked out some settings where I could more or less leave them alone - but it's been too long and I can't find my notes.

 

Messing around last night, temps were fine at 30% or so for both in combat- didn't try any cruise settings. I had this all worked out before but I can't remember what I'd arrived at anymore.

[Finkeren]

I very seldom find the need to use more than 40% water rad, but I like to cruise with it at 60% or higher to keep as cool as possible without overcooling. This allows you to fight a long time with the rad at 20% which is only marginally more draggy than fully closed.

[Jade_Monkey]

Between 30% and 50%. Never more than that unless really overheating and far from combat zone.

[II/JG17_HerrMurf]

I have noticed, fighting against it, that it is marginally faster and pilots are almost certainly taking advantage of the better rearward view. Makes them a little harder to hit and takes a little more forethought to disengage. Other than that, it's still mostly a Yak 1. As a Luftie, stay ahead of the fight and when in doubt, separate and climb.

[ACG_pezman]

The Yak-1b is my new baby.

 

It's just a Yak that is ironed out, but when you have been fighting in aircraft that are worse, it makes the Yak-1b feel like a Cadillac.

 

But that high speed roll rate, even that shocked me, and I'm sure the 190 I was fighting

[ShamrockOneFive]

You find the roll rate to be high? It seems average... better than the Yak-1s slow roll rate but not significantly faster in feel.

 

I love flying the Yak-1B despite my joystick being near death. It's fast, its aerobatic, it has decent firepower that is well optimized for the fighter role, the view all around is spectacular and overall its just a confidence inspiring type to fly. It's just a very refined Yak-1 Series 69 and while there are differences, they are of the subtle kind. Really great addition to the series!

[CF-105]

After taking it out for my first test flight, I expected the forums to be awash with people raving about how stunningly overpowered the S.127 is, because I just think it's that good, having gotten used to the handling of other Soviet machines.

[Finkeren]

After taking it out for my first test flight, I expected the forums to be awash with people raving about how stunningly overpowered the S.127 is, because I just think it's that good, having gotten used to the handling of other Soviet machines.

Apart from its speed at altitude, which is too high but it's not certain by how much, there seems to be a general agreement, that the FM of the 1B is pretty spot-on. It flies like a Yak but with that extra bit of power that gives you confidence to pull just a little tighter.

 

Its main asset is still the cockpit view. It is by no means an instant winner. I've spent a few hours online for the first time in months in my Yak-1B and I got absolutely slaughtered by LW players who knew what they were doing and weren't as rusty as I am.

[=38=Tatarenko]

Not sure it is that fast at alt. Over 4000m Messers regularly run and climb away from me.

[Finkeren]

Not sure it is that fast at alt. Over 4000m Messers regularly run and climb away from me.

Oh, they absolutely do. The error is something like 3-4% at 6000m. The Bf 109F4 can outrun the 1B at 6K without even going into combat mode on the engine.