IL-2 Sturmovik: Yak-9 Series 1 Collector Plane

The Yak-9 was the first model in the most mass-produced family of the WWII Soviet fighters - with its many modifications the total amount of units produced reached 16,769. The work on the new long-range recon and fighter plane began in the Yakovlev design bureau during Spring 1942 and it resulted in the creation of Yak-7DI, which was adopted by the VVS as early as August 6th of that same year under the designation Yak-9. The new model had a boosted M-105PF engine, a lighter wing of composite structure, and the lower spine with a bubble canopy that significantly improved the rearward visibility. In comparison to the earlier Yak-7b, the armament was reduced to one nose-mounted 12.7mm UBS MG and one 20mm SHVAK engine-mounted cannon firing through the propeller hub.

The mass production of the new fighter and its arrival to the frontline units begun only in 1943. In combat, the Yak-9 proved itself as very maneuverable and easy to control fighter, earning the love and respect of many Soviet pilots along with volunteer French from the Normandie Niemen fighter regiment.

In addition to Quick Mission Builder and Multiplayer modes, you can fly it in Career mode during Battle of Kuban timeframe.

• Armament: 20mm gun "ShVAK", 120 rounds, 800 rounds per minute and 12.7mm machine gun "UB", 200 rounds, 1000 rounds per minute.
• Length: 8.5 m
• Wingspan: 10 m
• Wing surface: 17.15 m²

Modifications

• Landing light for night flights (2 kg weight increase, minor speed loss).
• Fixed loop radio compass RPK-10 (10 kg weight increase, minor speed loss).
• PBP-1A reflector gunsight (0.5 kg weight increase).
• Rearview mirror (1 kg weight increase).

Skins

• Standard paint scheme.
• Lt.-Col. A.A. Matveev, 275th IAD, 1943.
• Fleeing Goebbels picture. Major I.N. Stepanenko, Summer 1943.
• Guards Captain S.A. Mikoyan, 32nd GIAP. The inscription 'For Volodya' means he is avenging his killed brother V.A. Mikoyan.
• Eagle in a circle picture. Lieutenant G.I. German, 42nd IAP, 240th IAD, 1943.
• 'For brother' dedicatory inscription. Major A.N. Kiloberidze, 65th GIAP, October 1944.
• Jaws picture on the front. A.A. Barsht, 118th OKRAP (separate spotting-and-reconnaissance aviation regiment) squadron commander, 1st Ukrainian Front, Late 1944.
• Lt.-Col. M.V. Avdeev, 6th GIAP, May 1944.
• Guards symbol. Captain M.I. Grib, 6th GIAP, May 1944.
• 'For Motherland' dedicatory inscription. Captain N.F. Denchik, 64th GIAP, early 1944.
• Standard grey camo.

Operation features

• The engine has a two-stage mechanical supercharger which must be manually switched at 2000...2400m altitude.
• Engine mixture control is manual; it is necessary to lean the mixture if altitude is more than 3-4 km for optimal engine operation. Also, leaning the mixture allows a reduction in fuel consumption during flight.
• Engine RPM has an automatic governor and it is maintained at the required RPM corresponding to the governor control lever position. The governor automatically controls the propeller pitch to maintain the required RPM.
• Water and oil radiator shutters are controlled manually.
• The airplane can only be trimmed in the pitch axis.
• Landing flaps have a pneumatic actuator. Flaps can only be fully extended; gradual extending is impossible. Due to the weak force of the actuator the extended landing flaps may be pressed upwards by the airflow if the airspeed is more than 220 km/h. Remember that the flaps will not extend fully in case of high speed. In case of a high-speed landing approach the flaps may extend a few steps further right before landing.
• The airplane has manual control for the tailwheel lock. The unlocked tailwheel has a 90° turn limit. The tailwheel should be locked when taxiing straight for a long distance and before takeoff and landing.
• The airplane has differential pneumatic wheel brakes with a shared control lever. This means that if the brake lever is held and the rudder pedal the opposite wheel brake is gradually released causing the plane to swing to one side or the other.
• Fuel gauges are installed on the left and right wing fuel tanks, outside of the cockpit. Less than 25l of fuel remaining in the wing tanks or the central feeder tank (10 liters capacity) are not measured.
• The canopy has no emergency release. In order to bail out, you must slow below 550 kph to open the canopy.