Best Russian Fighter

[claidemore]

I just scrolled through my collection of 98 photographs of Russian fighters and found only one that did not have a reflector sight, a dual seat Yak 7 trainer. Sounds to me like another myth perpatrated to generate further contempt against the Russians.
Or perhaps the confusion comes from the lack of "radios" in so many early Russian fighters.

 

[ummonk]

I said "and others" in my post, Juha. Other sites, wiki for example, echo this statement. The analysis of Russian fighters came, AFAIK, from the numerous examples investigated in 41 and 42.

Wish that was true. Than you could customize the gunsights xD.

Anyway, I mean't to vote for the Yak-9 but clicked the La-7. Could someone change my vote? Thanks.

 

[tomo pauk]

La-7 for me, esp. the 3 cannon ship is nice.

 

[parsifal]

I just scrolled through my collection of 98 photographs of Russian fighters and found only one that did not have a reflector sight, a dual seat Yak 7 trainer. Sounds to me like another myth perpatrated to generate further contempt against the Russians.
Or perhaps the confusion comes from the lack of "radios" in so many early Russian fighters.

agree, its a crock. The numbers of LW a/c lost in the '41 campaign attest to that. Either that, or the Russians were fantastic instinctive shots

 

[Valo300]

The P39 isn't on the list.

 

[fly boy]

la7's like the russian p-51 right?

 

[Venganza]

la7's like the russian p-51 right?

Fly boy, if by that, you mean an excellent fighter, you're right. Otherwise, the two planes were quite different. The La-7 had a radial engine, whereas the P-51 had an inline Merlin engine. The P-51 was optimized for high-altitude long-range escort duties, where the La-7 was primarily a low-to-medium altitude dogfighter. The P-51 would have been better at high altitudes, but at low altitudes I'd go with an La-7.

Venganza

 

[tomo pauk]

The P39 isn't on the list.

Yep, for some it's a turkey, while others consider it to be eagle. It's again:
a) what a machine is suppose to do
b) who is at the controls
that makes the plane good or bad.

 

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

I always thought the Yak-9 reminded me of the P-51. It's profile is somewhat similar.

 

[Venganza]

I always thought the Yak-9 reminded me of the P-51. It's profile is somewhat similar.

Yes, they both had that big underfuselage scoop. The Yak-9 was a lot smaller, though. I've got a model of a Yak-9M that I'm working on, and I'm amazed at how small it looks next to one of my IL-2's. It's even a little smaller than a '109.

Venganza

 

[Juha]

Hello
on Russian fighters, already in I-15bis/I-152, entered series production in 1937, there was pilot's back armour, 8 or 9 mm thick depending on source. And at least during Winter War (30.11.1939 - 13.3.40) its 310 litre fuel tank was rubber coated.

Juha

 

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

I have a Yak-9, but I'm haven't built it yet.

Got to finish a Japanese torpedo bomber first.

 

[Duke Soddy]

the I-16 was still the worlds first "modern" fighter, you can't deny that..........

You could counter that argument with the Boing P-26 Peashooter as the worlds first modern fighter. You wll argue the Boings lack of retractable landing gear, but the Boing had alot of firsts.

 

[Waynos]

was one of them that it was made of rubber?

Against the Boeing P-26 (insofar as 'first modern fighter' goes) is not only the lack of retractable undercarriage but also the lack of a cantilever monoplane wing. I think this is a crucial distinction as it was the cantilever monoplane with retractable u/c that was classed as a 'modern fighter'.

 

[Vincenzo]

maybe the title of thread best soviet fighter?

 

[CrotalusKid]

YAK 3 I feel was an amazing dogfighter

 

[Tzaw1]

best Russian fighter.......there isn't one

You are wrong.
The best Russian fighter in mass use was P-39/P-63. In small numbers Spitfire and Thunderbolt 8)

 

[imalko]

Very funny. Sorry, if I'm not laughing...

 

[dennis420b]

Yak-9. My only complaint about this plane is its armament. I like 2 cannon, and 2 MG as a standard. 1 of each, kind of a drag. But all I have read about the agility of this fine plane, puts it over the top for me.

 

[MaximusGR]

Actually none, its hard to award the title the award "best" to any of those, slaughtered by the thousands by a small Luftwaffe force, compared to the western front..Besides, since WW2 there has been no Soviet/Russian fighter that has not been hugely overrated by propaganda regarding their abilities.