The idea to produce a new fighter for the Red Army Air Force went as far back as 1941. It was then that the Yakovlev Design Bureau presented the I-30 prototype, intended as an alternative to the earlier Yak-1 design. However, the German invasion of the USSR, as well as aluminum shortages, meant that the project had to be put on hold. Yakovlev resumed the development in 1943 while working on an upgraded version of the Yak-1 fighter. This time, it was decided that a new aircraft should be produced to completely replace the Yak-1 and Yak-7 models. The wings and rear fuselage were skinned with plywood for a smooth finish. The new machine was dubbed as the Yak-3 and entered service with the Red Army Air Force in June, 1944.
The Yak-3 fighter quickly became very popular with Soviet pilots. They highly praised its ease of piloting and superb low-altitude performance. As a small. light, fast and highly-maneuverable aircraft up to 12,000 feet with limited range ( 1 hour duration) and firepower, the Yak-3 was used almost exclusively as low-altitude tactical fighter. Escort missions for bombers and ground-attack aircraft were reserved for the Yak-3’s big brother: The Yak-9D. By mid-1946 4,848 had been built.
1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (120 rpg)
2 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine guns, nose-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
2D Panel: Morton with permission to modify to a Yak-3 standard.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Gauges - Most are by Morton for the BR Yak-9U.
The Yak-3 fighter quickly became very popular with Soviet pilots. They highly praised its ease of piloting and superb low-altitude performance. As a small. light, fast and highly-maneuverable aircraft up to 12,000 feet with limited range ( 1 hour duration) and firepower, the Yak-3 was used almost exclusively as low-altitude tactical fighter. Escort missions for bombers and ground-attack aircraft were reserved for the Yak-3’s big brother: The Yak-9D. By mid-1946 4,848 had been built.
1 x 20 mm ShVAK cannon, nose-mounted (120 rpg)
2 x 12.7 mm Berezin UB machine guns, nose-mounted (150 rpg = 300 total)
Credits
Captain Kurt: Aircraft model, VC, paint textures, aircraft flight files, and .dp.
2D Panel: Morton with permission to modify to a Yak-3 standard.
Kelticheart: Prop blurred texture.
Gauges - Most are by Morton for the BR Yak-9U.
