| The Soviet Fighter Yakovlev Yak-3 Contributor(s): Rao, Anirudh (Author) |
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ISBN: 8366673030 ISBN-13: 9788366673038 Publisher: Kagero OUR PRICE: $22.46 Product Type: Paperback Published: January 2021 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Military - Aviation - Crafts & Hobbies | Models - Crafts & Hobbies | Miniatures |
| Physical Information: 0.4" H x 8.2" W x 11.6" (0.85 lbs) 20 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Yakovlev Yak-3 is considered one of the best World War 2 fighters, invariably praised by those who flew it in combat for its remarkable performance. The Germans also treated it with respect, which is perhaps best illustrated by Generalleutnant Walter Schwabedissen's remark: The Yak-3 was a tough nut to crack for our pilots. It outperformed our machines in speed, maneuverability and rate of climb. The emergence of Yak-3 was a compromise between the need to improve the Yak-1's characteristics and the limitations of Soviet aircraft industry and its outdated technologies. The basic design concept took those shortcomings into account, which allowed a rapid launch of mass production of this inexpensive fighter. This in turn would provide frontline units with timely deliveries of new equipment to recoup combat losses. The key to Yak-3's success was not the use of a new powerplant (in those days hard to come by in the USSR), but rather squeezing every bit of performance out of the M-105PF engine, which resulted in a five percent increase in power output. In combination with some serious weight shedding, the Yak-3 had a significantly better performance than the Yak-1. At altitudes up to 5,000 m (which is where most of the air combat over Eastern Front took place), Yak-3 outperformed both the Bf-109 and Fw-190 in rate of climb and maneuverability. Unlike the Yak-1, the new fighter could also stay with the enemy in a dive. |