Yak-7b - In case you didn't notice

[Finkeren]

41 minutes ago, CrazyDuck said:

 

Yak-7 doesn't? Haven't noticed that. Yeah, I remember frustration in the legacy IL2 1946 when bomber gunners wer consistently PK-ing me with a single 7.9mm bullet directly through the windscreen with the accuracy of terminator T-1000.

 

Nope, the -7b does have the squared off windscreen, but as far as I can see, it's just a regular glass pane. It has no blue tint, and if you open the cockpit and lean outside, you can see, that it's got no thickness either.

[56RAF_Roblex]

2 hours ago, Finkeren said:

That’s easy: Yak-1b

 

The combination of better speed, climb rate, field of vision and more effective cooling trumps the heavier armament and (arguably) improved handling.

 

 

 

You must have different figures to me.  I am seeing that the 1b is only 4kmh faster at sea level (526 v 530and only 2kmh faster at 2000 ) (565 v 567) neither of which would even be noticeable. It is only at 4k that the 1b is 11kmh faster (586 v 597).   The difference in climb rates is about the same at sea level and about 0.7 m/s at 3000 and 0.9 m/s at 6k which is not going to make much difference when you are trying to catch a 109 in a climb.    I cannot argue that the rear vis in a 1b is superb but I can argue that matching the 1bs turn rate while travelling 40kmh faster is more than an arguable improvement as is having twice the firepower!  I have not heard about any cooling differences or noticed any cooling problems in the 7b. Is it a big issue?   Please also tell me of any misconceptions I have about speeds and climb rates. I am not being sarcastic :-); there are some bad figures around. Mine come from Shamrocks 'Storm Birds' site but he could have mistyped something.

 

The bottom line for me is that, *from what figures I have read*,  the 1b & 7b seem near enough in all aspects of performance as to be unnoticeable without the use of scientific instruments which leaves you with 'Is that superb 1b canopy so good that you would remove one of your two guns from a 7b in order to have the 1bs canopy?'     I would say no but that is just my opinion and others may be able to kill enemies just as fast with half the firepower and the better rear view saves their lives frequently enough that they need it.

[Finkeren]

Don’t get me wrong, I really like the -7b - it’s awesome. However, the question was: If you had to pick one with which to equip an entire airforce, which would it be? 

 

When we talk about an entire airforce, then it essentially becomes statistics, and there even the small margins matter in a way you won’t notice in a single combat situation.

[=362nd_FS=RoflSeal]

3 hours ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

 

You must have different figures to me.  I am seeing that the 1b is only 4kmh faster at sea level (526 v 530and only 2kmh faster at 2000 ) (565 v 567) neither of which would even be noticeable. It is only at 4k that the 1b is 11kmh faster (586 v 597).   The difference in climb rates is about the same at sea level and about 0.7 m/s at 3000 and 0.9 m/s at 6k which is not going to make much difference when you are trying to catch a 109 in a climb.    I cannot argue that the rear vis in a 1b is superb but I can argue that matching the 1bs turn rate while travelling 40kmh faster is more than an arguable improvement as is having twice the firepower!  I have not heard about any cooling differences or noticed any cooling problems in the 7b. Is it a big issue?   Please also tell me of any misconceptions I have about speeds and climb rates. I am not being sarcastic :-); there are some bad figures around. Mine come from Shamrocks 'Storm Birds' site but he could have mistyped something.

 

The bottom line for me is that, *from what figures I have read*,  the 1b & 7b seem near enough in all aspects of performance as to be unnoticeable without the use of scientific instruments which leaves you with 'Is that superb 1b canopy so good that you would remove one of your two guns from a 7b in order to have the 1bs canopy?'     I would say no but that is just my opinion and others may be able to kill enemies just as fast with half the firepower and the better rear view saves their lives frequently enough that they need it.

That figure of 526kph cannot be maintained due to cooling issues. On spring map, rads to maintain maximum allowable temperatures are 100% oil radiator and 70% water radiator which drops the speed to ~515kph

[Diggun]

I have to say I have been loving the -7b. I've been dogfighting AI with some success, but I have also been really enjoying running some ground attack in it - two bombs to get the party started, coupled with the 2 x 12.7's & the SsVAK can really ruin a soft targets day. You can blast in & out much quicker than in an Il2, and look stylish, with an august, almost Hurricane-esque scholarly stoop (what some might uncharitably call a hunchback). I can actually aim the guns, which doesn't happen in LA-5 or (FN), and even see behind me a wee bit. Less twitchy than the -1b, she goes where you point her, doesn't wobble, and gobbles up Fritz's transport & logistics for breakfast.

 

My surprise hit of Kuban (other than the optimisation, cloud layers, career mode, and all the other goodies too...). Lovely stuff.

[Lusekofte]

I like ugly planes, The Yak 7 suit me fine, first time I really wanted to fly a Yak at all. I simply know nothing of it, its history has eluded me. I find it very facinating

[Swing]

yep, i like airplanes that have a story too  the fact that this plane is an "accident" i like a lot

[BOO]

The yak is just playing at ugly.

 

Now the LA5FN - THATS UGLY!

[Finkeren]

14 minutes ago, BOO said:

The yak is just playing at ugly.

 

Now the LA5FN - THATS UGLY!

 

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!

[-TBC-AeroAce]

3 minutes ago, Finkeren said:

 

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!

 

If u didn't like that I shudder to think what you will say to this.

 

The Mig to me is plain ugly!!!

[EAF19_Marsh]

Quote

Now the LA5FN - THATS UGLY!

 

Quote

The Mig to me is plain ugly!!!

 

 

Odd's fish, m'dear!

[BOO]

3 hours ago, Finkeren said:

 

YOU TAKE THAT BACK!!!!

it looks like its already crash landed. That or someone had the bits of two different aircraft and no instructions. Man, its offensive!! it sags in the middle like an old sofa and that hammered on rear canopy portion makes it look like one aircraft rammed into the back of another.  NASTY. Urg!

 

 

[Diggun]

6 minutes ago, BOO said:

it looks like its already crash landed. 

 

 

In my case, that design feature simply saves time. Efficient. 

[Finkeren]

4 hours ago, AeroAce said:

 

If u didn't like that I shudder to think what you will say to this.

 

The Mig to me is plain ugly!!!

 

Pssssh that doesn’t bother me. You’re obviously just trying to get a rise out of me here, because literally nobody in the entire World thinks the MiG is ugly.

Edited March 19, 2018 by Finkeren

[sniperton]

It's a great plane, but takes some care to land it. Very shallow glide, gear down, full flaps, zero throttle, and it flies, and flies, and doesn't want to settle on the runway. The lift and the lack of deceleration makes it like a glider, it feels ultra-light on landing, it cannot be compared to any other plane in the game. I'm not complaining, just my experience, and eager to learn your opinion.

[AndyJWest]

1 hour ago, sniperton said:

It's a great plane, but takes some care to land it. Very shallow glide, gear down, full flaps, zero throttle, and it flies, and flies, and doesn't want to settle on the runway. The lift and the lack of deceleration makes it like a glider, it feels ultra-light on landing, it cannot be compared to any other plane in the game. I'm not complaining, just my experience, and eager to learn your opinion.

 

I think that is mostly down to it not having enough up trim available to approach at the proper speed without having to hold the stick back. I've reported this as a bug, since I think it unlikely that it would have been accepted for service like that. The other Yaks have the same issue to some extent, but they aren't quite as bad.

[indiaciki]

I do not like her. Do not know why. I prefer the yak 1.

[sniperton]

8 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

I think that is mostly down to it not having enough up trim available to approach at the proper speed without having to hold the stick back.

Sounds reasonable. All my landings were made with a fully up-trimmed aircraft, and my first thought was that the flaps did not fully deploy, but this proved to be false. Anyway, even the flaps seem to me a little bit ineffective in the sense that, unlike on most other planes, they do not seem to affect the flight attitude of the plane.

[Royal_Flight]

17 hours ago, AeroAce said:

 

If u didn't like that I shudder to think what you will say to this.

 

The Mig to me is plain ugly!!!

 

I can't let this stand either... the MiG is no Spitfire, but it's beautiful. 

[EAF19_Marsh]

It has character, like Owen Wilson's wonky nose.

 

It is also sooooo 1943, darling.

[Diggun]

6 minutes ago, EAF19_Marsh said:

It has character, like Owen Wilson's wonky nose.

 

It is also sooooo 1943, darling.

Pugnacious.

Pug-nacious?

 

 

 

 

I'll get my coat.

 

[Finkeren]

Ok I tried the Yak-7b in the career, and it’s DEVASTATING in the hands of the AI. On my first mission our flight of 4 were escorting IL-2s to Krymskaya. We were off to a bad start, as shortly after take off our flight leader collided with my wingman, resulting in only two Yaks to escort 9 IL-2s. Luckily over the target we were joined by another flight of 4 Yak-7b, but we were intercepted by a grand total of 14 Bf 109G2/G4. Our six Yaks shot down 11 of the 109s (5 of them by me) and our losses were limited to a single IL-2. As far as I could see, no Yak was damaged in the fight. 

 

Unfortunately I crashed into a tree during a ground attack run later the same day.

[Solmyr]

Almost didn't try her so far, but I like the idea of being able to give a decent seat to my dear mechanic, when we are going to move airbase. He deserves this, he does a really great job everytime I click on "Refly" button.

[-SF-Disarray]

I think the 7b is my favorite of the Yaks in game. While it might not be quite as fast as the 1b the extra gun makes all the difference for me. The plane can knife fight with the best of them and when you let lose with all 3 guns you don't need that much time on target to wreck someone's day. In one sortie with the 7b I was able to bring down 5 enemies, the last two on short ammo with just the 12.7's. The only thing that puzzles me about the plane is the right hand MG runs out of ammo before the left. I don't know why this happens.

[Finkeren]

Gave the -7B a little try online tonight, but very quickly gave up on it. 

 

Reason: It overheats. It overheats a lot!

 

On summer maps where I had no trouble keeping the other Yaks or the La-5FN cool enough, it overheated so badly, that I was forced to throttle back to 80% during dogfights, having the radiators fully open wasn’t enough.

 

I don’t know if it’s the new heat modeling, that was introduced. If so, I welcome it, because cooling has always struck me as perhaps too effective in this sim, but until it is implemented for all fighters it puts the -7B at a severe disadvantage.

 

I’ll stick to flying it in SP and on winter maps.

[-SF-Disarray]

I haven't found heat issues to be a factor with the 7b. It gets hot, sure, but never to the point that I had an issue with it. Did you keep your speed up? I've noticed that most of the Soviet planes will heat up real quick if you fly slow at full throttle, say in a really tight and sustained turn, for a while. If you keep the speed around 300 kph though, they seem to do alright.

[Finkeren]

44 minutes ago, Disarray said:

I haven't found heat issues to be a factor with the 7b. It gets hot, sure, but never to the point that I had an issue with it. Did you keep your speed up? I've noticed that most of the Soviet planes will heat up real quick if you fly slow at full throttle, say in a really tight and sustained turn, for a while. If you keep the speed around 300 kph though, they seem to do alright.

 

I flew the -7B exactly the same as I’d fly any Yak. That involves some substantial changes in airspeed during a fight and prolonged climbing at optimal climb speed outside of combat.

 

Thing is: Doing the exact same thing in a Yak-1 s. 69 or s. 127 I have never been unable to keep the engine from overheating, and in the Yak-1b I pretty much never have to open the water radiator fully, even in summer during prolonged climb. In the -7B overheating sets in within seconds, even with both radiators fully open.

 

As I said: If this is the new heat model, I think it’s great. Makes engine temperature a far more serious matter, but until all aircraft act like this, it’s gonna be a problem for the -7B.

[Royal_Flight]

2 hours ago, Disarray said:

I think the 7b is my favorite of the Yaks in game. While it might not be quite as fast as the 1b the extra gun makes all the difference for me. The plane can knife fight with the best of them and when you let lose with all 3 guns you don't need that much time on target to wreck someone's day. In one sortie with the 7b I was able to bring down 5 enemies, the last two on short ammo with just the 12.7's. The only thing that puzzles me about the plane is the right hand MG runs out of ammo before the left. I don't know why this happens.

 

The right machine gun has less ammunition, 160rds against the 260rds in the left one. 

 

Source - Wikipedia 

[Solmyr]

12 hours ago, Royal_Flight said:

The right machine gun has less ammunition, 160rds against the 260rds in the left one. 

 

240 in the left one I believe.

[216th_Jordan]

13 hours ago, Finkeren said:

 

As I said: If this is the new heat model, I think it’s great. Makes engine temperature a far more serious matter, but until all aircraft act like this, it’s gonna be a problem for the -7B.

 

 

would be cool to know this, I wondered about it too, but the radiator design itself strikes me as not very good. Fully opened it has those gaps to the sides that IMO neglect the lower pressure  a fully opened position should produce. So its likely that we got a new heat model and a bad radiator design..

 

Would be nice to know.

[Tag777]

I fly it in MP in winter and summer maps and, yes, it overheats more than the other yaks, but not to the point that it becomes a problem, at least not for me. It climbs reasonably well and turns also well (at low speeds with a little flaps added). And the two MGs plus the cannon are devastating. Last night I fought against 110s and 109s and it handled very well. Even with 190s at low level and medium speeds.

[Solmyr]

42 minutes ago, Tag777 said:

And the two MGs plus the cannon are devastating.

 

Aren't the same as the 1b (ser.127) ? (qualitively speaking I mean)

[Finkeren]

4 minutes ago, Solmyr said:

 

Aren't the same as the 1b (ser.127) ? (qualitively speaking I mean)

 

The s. 127 only has one UBS.

[ATA_Vasilij]

After yesterday experiences:

Yak7b turns far better than La5FN. And is much more stable, which is for me awesome combination. 

Lavockhin is like a wild horse, but Yak 7b is a calm bear. Bear with sharp teeths. 

On 20. 3. 2018 at 12:54 AM, sniperton said:

It's a great plane, but takes some care to land it. Very shallow glide, gear down, full flaps, zero throttle, and it flies, and flies, and doesn't want to settle on the runway. The lift and the lack of deceleration makes it like a glider, it feels ultra-light on landing, it cannot be compared to any other plane in the game. I'm not complaining, just my experience, and eager to learn your opinion.

 I wouldnt say it better..and flies... and flies ...and the end of runway already behind you and Yak still flies.... :D

It seems to be exagerrative.... and little bit unrealistic.

[CIA_Yankee_]

6 hours ago, 3.IAP_Vasilij said:

After yesterday experiences:

Yak7b turns far better than La5FN. And is much more stable, which is for me awesome combination. 

Lavockhin is like a wild horse, but Yak 7b is a calm bear. Bear with sharp teeths. 

 I wouldnt say it better..and flies... and flies ...and the end of runway already behind you and Yak still flies.... :D

It seems to be exagerrative.... and little bit unrealistic.

 

Good Soviet engineering scoffs at thermodynamics! Perpetual flying machine is a thing!

[-SF-Disarray]

8 hours ago, Solmyr said:

 

Aren't the same as the 1b (ser.127) ? (qualitively speaking I mean)

 

Yes, the MG's are qualitatively the same; it is the same gun and ammo. The difference is in quantity, the 7b has two where the 1b only has one. 

[Lusekofte]

I have to say I liked it, it might not be the best fighter, but it is to me so far, compared to the few I tested. Ireally liked it. I think I will fly it more. In QMB I am unstoppable in it

[seafireliv]

I dunno what it is, but I just don`t like Yaks. Love the I16, like the LA5s, but Yaks...

 

I fly them only if I have to.

[Lusekofte]

Teah I vouch never to fly Yaks and 109´s, but this Yak interested me, and I think it is its weird look making me liking it

[CrazyDuck]

4 minutes ago, seafireliv said:

I dunno what it is, but I just don`t like Yaks. Love the I16, like the LA5s, but Yaks...

 

I fly them only if I have to.

 

I guess this might change if we're ever lucky enough to get our hands on Yak-9U (with VK-107) and Yak-3.