Yak-7b series 36

The Yakovlev Yak-7b series 36 is a fighter from the Battle of Kuban module of IL-2 Sturmovik: Great Battles.

Hangar view

Important facts and figures

Engine management

• The engine has been tuned to never go higher than nominal power. You can therefore fly all day with every lever jammed forwards, провинциал style.
• The only limit to engine power output is heat soak. Careful radiator and mixture management will be key here.
• The oil radiator exerts minimum drag when fully closed.
• The water radiator exerts minimum drag when set to 50%.
• On the deck: 80% mixture for performance, 90% is overrich and cools the engine. For every 1000m above 2000m, reduce these numbers by about 5% (ie: 75% at 3000m, 70% at 4000m, etc)
• In first supercharger gear, power output peaks below maximum engine RPM. This changes with altitude: hold the throttle steady and observe at what RPM the manifold pressure peaks. Maximum RPM allows for maximum acceleration; maximum power for maximum speed.
• In second supercharger gear, jam that RPM lever all the way forwards!
• Shift supercharger gears at 2000m.
• Engine water temperature should be kept between 70°C and 85°C. Don't exceed 100°C.
• Engine oil temperature should be kept between 90°C and 100°C. Don't exceed 115°C.

Airspeed considerations

• Vne: 720Km/h.
• Stall speed without flaps: 155-172km/h.
• Stall speed with flaps: 139-154km/h.
• Stock flat out top speed at sea level: 526km/h.

Flying the Yak-7b

Out of combat

Startup and taxi

• RPM, mixture 100%.
• Throttle 10-15%.
• Begin engine startup sequence.
• For taxiing, you can unlock the tailwheel to make tighter turns. Be aware that the plane then is highly unstable.

Takeoff

• Make sure your tailwheel is locked.
• Mixture to 80%
• Open the radiators for the initial climb to altitude: oil at around 25%, water at 50%.
• Smoothly throttle up to full power.
• Use left rudder to keep the plane straight.
• Takeoff speed is just under 200km/h.

Climb

• Pitch trim to achieve the desired attitude.
• Keep an eye on your oil and water temperature and adjust the radiator flaps if necessary.
• Dont forget to shift your supercharger gear at 2000m.
• Lean the mixture by around 5% for every 1000m you climb higher than 2000m (ie: 75% at 3000m, 70% at 4000m, etc).

Cruise

• Pitch trim to achieve the desired attitude.
• Keep an eye on your oil and water temperature and adjust the radiator flaps if necessary. You may need to close them more than you think!
• If you wish to save fuel, lean your mixture until your exhaust is no longer sooty.
• If necessary, adjust your RPM for maximum speed.

Landing

• RPM to 100%.
• Mixture to 80%.
• Keep an eye on your oil and water temperature and adjust the radiator flaps if necessary. You may need to close them more than you think!
• The pneumatic flap actuators can only exert enough force to extend the flaps under 250km/h. And even then, the flaps won't fully extend. Expect them to suddenly extend as your speed drops, with the usual effects on handling.
• Landing speed is around 150km/h.
• After touchdown, let the plane roll for a little while before applying the brakes.

In combat

Overall

• RPM to 100% for dogfighting.
• RPM to peak power output for BnZ or when chasing or fleeing.
• Mixture to 80%. Use 90% if your engine is getting hot. Adjust these numbers according to altitude!
• Keep an eye on your oil and water temperature and adjust the radiator flaps if necessary. The only limit to how hard you can run your engine is how hot is gets. You can also choose to close your rads (water rad to 50%) to allow for short bursts of lower drag.

Strengths

• Can turn and burn very well. Excellent instant turn.
• Best armament of all the Yaks.
• Very sweet and easy plane to fly at 80%. Good learner plane.

Weaknesses

• Not much ammunition.
• Worse climb rate and acceleration than earlier Yaks.
• If you pull really hard on the stick, one wing will stall and the plane will snap roll over.
• Poor energy retention.
• Sub-par rear visibility.