Don't know jack about Yak

[TAIPAN_]

With the new Yak variants coming soon, I realise I know next to nothing about these aircraft and I'm going to own 5 of them. Getting into the eastern front now I'd like to know more.

 

Is there any good summary of the 5 variants we will have and what the differences are? Eventually I'll work through them individually, but for now I'm curious how each variant fits in, and their strengths and weaknesses.

[TheOldCrow]

Don't know much about the old Yaks but it seems that the 9 and 9t are actually quite comparable to the C variant of the P-51, without the range of course. 

 

Yak-9 

Max speed - 600 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 4,300 m (14,108 ft), Just about P-51 cruise speed at 362 mph but still respectable. as the G-6 variant of 109, (its main adversary) only had a max of 365. (all at 14,000 Ft)

Range - 910 km (570 mi) Not specified if with drop tanks but still ahead of the German 109's and 190's with a combat range max of 572 km and assumed drop tank range of 880 km.

Rate of climb - 16.3 m/s (3,210 ft/min) Just under the 109 G-6 at 3300 ft/min. But, matching the 51

Wing loading - 167.3 kg/m2 (34.3 lb/sq ft) Exactly the same as before just slightly under the 109 but matching 51

Power/mass - 0.3066 kW/kg (0.1865 hp/lb) Exactly the same as before just slightly under the 109 (0.201 hp/lb) but matching 51

Wingspan - 9.74 m (31 ft 11 in) Shorter than both the 109 and 51 so as usual you can expect great roll rate advantage.

Firepower -  1 × 20 mm ShVAK cannon, and 1 × 12.7 mm Berezin UBS machine gun. Very comparable to the German MG151/20 cannon. 

 

Overall as a late 42' early 43', fighter it will definitely be a challenger to the 109 and 190's as it was regarded on equal grounds as both.

I'll try and find some more concrete info on the main differences between types if I get the time. Hope this helped a little! S!

[Bremspropeller]

6 hours ago, TheOldCrow said:

Range - 910 km (570 mi) Not specified if with drop tanks but still ahead of the German 109's and 190's with a combat range max of 572 km and assumed drop tank range of 880 km.

 

Careful with range and combat range figures. "Combat range" is usually called "combat radius" - precisely to not confuse it with "range" -  and it's about half the range plus a factor for some fiddling with other airplanes at that distance.

 

You'll find the range/ combat radius figures of the Yaks (unless D or DD models) and the 109 and 190 to be pretty similar.

 

Edited May 19, 2020 by Bremspropeller

[cardboard_killer]

Wikipedia is a start. But for game specifics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TAIPAN_]

Thanks guys

Got those videos bookmarked already, currently using Requiem's great videos for my starter aircraft I'm getting into.

 

Looks like the new Yak's will be released very soon

[Charlo-VRde]

I’m really hoping some very clever folk will create these for these Yaks

 

 

[LukeFF]

There were essentially two development & production paths for the Yak: "Light" and "Heavy". The first path refers to the Yak-1 line, where the planes were built with a more lightweight structure and armament. Eventually, in 1944, the Yak-1 gave way to the Yak-3.

 

The "Heavy" line traces its origins to the Yak-7. The Yak-7 was originally built as a trainer. It was found that it could be made into a useful fighter by removing the rear cockpit and adding retractable landing gear, and of course that meant more fighters at the front. Being originally built as a trainer, it was a more sturdy aircraft and eventually carried heavier armament and the Yak-1 and Yak-3. It's from the Yak-7 that the Yak-9 line comes.

[TAIPAN_]

2 hours ago, LukeFF said:

There were essentially two development & production paths for the Yak: "Light" and "Heavy". The first path refers to the Yak-1 line, where the planes were built with a more lightweight structure and armament. Eventually, in 1944, the Yak-1 gave way to the Yak-3.

 

The "Heavy" line traces its origins to the Yak-7. The Yak-7 was originally built as a trainer. It was found that it could be made into a useful fighter by removing the rear cockpit and adding retractable landing gear, and of course that meant more fighters at the front. Being originally built as a trainer, it was a more sturdy aircraft and eventually carried heavier armament and the Yak-1 and Yak-3. It's from the Yak-7 that the Yak-9 line comes.

 

That's a great explanation.

Do most people find the Yak-1 is a more competitive dogfighter than the 7 due to being lighter more manoeuvrable? Even in 1943?

 

The 9T looks like fun

[Giovanni_Giorgio]

I really like Yak-1b. May sound weird, but to me it looks like a Russian Mustang. My only problem is that its armament is very ineffective in the game. Yak-7b looks much more favorable in this regard, somehow one UBS makes a big difference.

[cardboard_killer]

1 hour ago, Dan_Taipan said:

Do most people find the Yak-1 is a more competitive dogfighter than the 7 due to being lighter more manoeuvrable?

 

I like the -7 better for higher speed turning ability, but the -1 is more maneuverable. The 1-b is probably the best of the 3, but I stick with the -7 more often than not.

57 minutes ago, mincer said:

Yak-7b looks much more favorable in this regard, somehow one UBS makes a big difference.

Very much so, another reason I like the -7 over the -1b

[TAIPAN_]

3 hours ago, mincer said:

I really like Yak-1b. May sound weird, but to me it looks like a Russian Mustang. My only problem is that its armament is very ineffective in the game. Yak-7b looks much more favorable in this regard, somehow one UBS makes a big difference.

So you must love the Yak-9T then

[Giovanni_Giorgio]

6 minutes ago, Dan_Taipan said:

So you must love the Yak-9T then

I am already testing it on bots to get myself used to the gun. So far it looks almost as devastating as MG151/20!