LA-7 love/hate relationship

Lost Apiarist · #1 04-06-2010, 03:28 PM

Well I had a great/fun night online saturday the 3rd with Tree Smokerer and xx Waffen SS xx hosting some realistic matches, thanks! Now I am a newbie to flight sims so my skills are very weak but improving.

Now I am partial to the LA-7 for historical reasons and also love its nimbleness, I also like being the only one not flying a Spitfire or FW-109 but am quickly finding out that it is going to take a lot more practice to be effective with its seemingly anemic firepower. It was very difficult to get clean kills, I would end up damaging an enemy enough to crash but not enough to record a kill. Tried playing on a spitfire mk IX and recorded a few more kills but felt like I was flying a semi truck in comparison, definite trade off (and I was just another spit in the skies).

So realizing that the main component to all of this is going to be practice practice! Is their any other tips out there from LA-7 Ace's?

Thanks

SEE · #2 04-06-2010, 04:17 PM

I prefer the LA5 in SIM (more ammo on limited F/A SIM sessions and other reasons). You got it one....practice your gunnery. There are no tips or tricks other than get close or time your burst for maximum damage on low flying Spits as these will hit the deck and no kill count. Realistic damage models are different to SIM and in SIM mode you should find that the LA is capable of clean kills even from long range. Learn to follow a 'clip' by a 'kill' by watching the target in front of you, maintain a favourable angle of attack by adjusting throttle and direction...then pounce and finish the job!

Lost Apiarist · #3 04-06-2010, 04:28 PM

Yeah I think getting in closer is one of the key's that I am gonna have to work on.

SEE · #4 04-06-2010, 04:45 PM

there is a technique that favours all a/c......the zoom kill.....as you zoom your gunsight will seem to go off center and in a particular direction depending on your direction of flight, you can use this rather than adjusting your angle of attack but once again its a technique that needs a lot of practice and you still need to get the lead angle correct. If your opponent is straight and level (sucker!) then use the zoom and aim for the fuselage or wings. Even if you do not get an outright kill this can give you a 'clip' followed by a 'kill' opportunity after the zoom function has been released since you will be well placed to pounce on the damaged target....its expoiting the game mechanics and improving combat skills/gunnery, etc. Switching to cockpit view just before you press the trigger is another technique I use.....BTW, more games are now being played using the Strike and CA maps so getting a clean kill is not a priority or a problem.

markyboyacebassist · #5 04-06-2010, 05:57 PM

The most beautiful piston fighter ever!

(This is my totally biased Englishman's opinion !!) LOL!!

Robotic Pope · #6 04-06-2010, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SEE

there is a technique that favours all a/c......the zoom kill.....as you zoom your gunsight will seem to go off center and in a particular direction depending on your direction of flight, you can use this rather than adjusting your angle of attack but once again its a technique that needs a lot of practice and you still need to get the lead angle correct. If your opponent is straight and level (sucker!) then use the zoom and aim for the fuselage or wings. Even if you do not get an outright kill this can give you a 'clip' followed by a 'kill' opportunity after the zoom function has been released since you will be well placed to pounce on the damaged target....its expoiting the game mechanics and improving combat skills/gunnery, etc. Switching to cockpit view just before you press the trigger is another technique I use.....BTW, more games are now being played using the Strike and CA maps so getting a clean kill is not a priority or a problem.

I told you to keep quiet about that glitch!

Replying to the OP: The La7 is one of the best armed planes in the game. Get those two cannons on target and they will fireball an IL*2 with a one sec. burst.

Sounds to me like you are having what I call mini lag which is very anoying when it happens to you and makes you feel like you are shooting blanks. Try lag leading a target much more than normal.

I would advise anyone not to allways fly the La.7 as it is a very easy plane to do well in and is hugely overpowered in this game (along with the other RUS planes).
If you really want to improve your skills, once you are doing well with the best planes, give yourself a challenge and move onto more difficult planes. I never understand why people stick to the same plane over and over. I get way more pleasure from flying well in a mustang than from pwning everyone in a La.

SEE · #7 04-06-2010, 07:01 PM

LA5, Spit Mk1X, P47D....my fav's but Pope is right....I need to fly a wider variety but they are so difficult to resist.........so he sets up rooms with a 1940 year limit and forces me and Squirrel to fly something else.....you are so mean Pope......but we luv ya just the same!...........

gbtstr · #8 04-06-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robotic Pope

I would advise anyone not to allways fly the La.7 as it is a very easy plane to do well in and is hugely overpowered in this game (along with the other RUS planes).
If you really want to improve your skills, once you are doing well with the best planes, give yourself a challenge and move onto more difficult planes. I never understand why people stick to the same plane over and over. I get way more pleasure from flying well in a mustang than from pwning everyone in a La.

Agreed. One good round in a P-47 is worth 10 good ones in a 109. And they happen at about that rate, too.

Lost Apiarist · #9 04-06-2010, 07:43 PM

Haha. No slight intended, it is a fine aircraft. I guess I just like being a black sheep (hey that can be my new call sign!

)

Robotic Pope: Hmm good to hear that it is my skill and not a firepower problem with the plane. I am all for trying out new aircraft, but at this point I am so far behind the curve, having just recently picked up the game and not really having a lot of experience with flyers I need to concentrate on getting proficient with one for now.

Thanks for the replies.

Edit:I think that a lot of my problem just lies with the sensitivity/twitchyness of the plane and the small Field of Fire that the LA-7 has. Do love the no recoil though.

ButcherBird · #10 04-06-2010, 08:10 PM

not a fan of the LA7, its just too dam overpowered. IT turns on a dime, and is even fast enough to run down a boom and zoom plane.

And as far as it being under-armed, from my experience the 2x 20mm cannons with very littel recoil is plenty enough to rack up clean kills.

anyway, just wish the russian aircraft were a little more even with the british planes and the US widowmakers or if you want to call them aircraft in this game.
I'd say the best US dogfighter according to BOP would have to be the B-17G