Look at a Yak from the right angle and it becomes a shark. A low-slung speed machine some genius armed with machine guns, a cannon, and one mother of an engine. It is one of the best and highly respected fighters anywhere, especially in Aces High. This isn't a P-51 anyone can drive with relative ease, nor is it a super-charged Zero with unreal ability. Like the Messerschmitt 109, you have to possess brains to fly this thing. Small ammo loads, high speeds, and unreal handling make this far from a beginner's plane.
 

Characteristics:
   Takeoff

    Aircraft will torque rapidly to the right, so apply a smooth but large amount of left rudder to compensate. Most new pilots try flying this thing and quickly discover she's no P-47. This thing almost tries out-thinking you at times! Power should be added slowly to avoid overwhelming your ability to control the aircraft. After some practice, or in case you have balls that clank, feel free to floor it. Just be prepared for the large amount of rudder you need to boot in so you don't do something stupid. Like hit your CO's car. Tail lifts between 70-90 mph depending on flap settings used. Flaps may be used to decrease takeoff run, but are not necessary regardless of the weight. Aircraft will quickly accelerate after takeoff beyond the point flaps are needed, so bring them up quickly. Just after takeoff the aircraft will usually slip to the left a bit, which poses no problem. Control after takeoff is sluggish due to slow speeds, with the ailerons and rudder being mushy in response. Elevator response will feel oddly mushy, but the aircraft will rapidly climb at a speed of 150 mph. One major problem is dealing with her acceleration. In a P-51 or a 109 you can wait a bit before pulling the gear up. Try that in a Yak and you'll probably rip the gear off! Most of the time your speed right after takeoff will immedately hit 150mph.

   Slow Speed handling

    All controls are slow to respond, and the aircraft will noticably roll like a pig in mud if the pilot tries any roll over 45º. The tail will swing around slightly during and after rudder inputs, like the old "tail wagging the dog" joke. Oddly, the rudder stays rather crisp at low airspeeds. Try to avoid yanking on the stick while under 200 mph, and completely avoid steep banked turns. This plane will readily spin if you are not careful, so don't use a heavy hand. On top of that, adverse yaw (the tail swinging caused by banking) is HUGE at low speeds. Plus she'll drop like an anvil if you tip her on end below 200 indicated. Speed may be picked up at any time by simply leveling off and allowing the aircraft to accelerate. If speed is needed immedately simply push the nose over a little and allow it to accelerate.
 

   Moderate Speed handling

   All controls are very crisp between 220 mph and 380 mph. Ailerons are sharp enough to execute quick barrel rolls, snap turns, and hard banking maneuvers with astounding speed. Elevator response is also very sharp, allowing for snap-rolls and other maneuvers that, when combined with the excellent ailerons, can nearly match those performed by the Fw-190 D9.

   High Speed handling

    All controls stiffen with speed. The elevator stiffens more quickly than the rest, while the ailerons remain light up to around 370 mph. At speeds exceeding 400 mph all controls stiffen dramatically, especially the ailerons. Rudder input at high speeds is slower than the other control surfaces. Aileron control becomes difficult as they stiffen past 400 mph. Elevator reponse will slow quickly from the near-instant control possible at slower speeds, but full deflection can be achieved with little trouble.

   Stall and Spin

    The stall is not life-threatening as in other aircraft. There is no sharp drop of a wing, or rapid loss of control. Do not cross the controls (left roll with right rudder, for example) or the aircraft will enter a spin. Usually one wing drops gently as the nose comes down and the aircraft resumes normal flight. Entering a spin while nose high can be nearly impossible to get out of, as the tail will ride low. Nose low (normal) spins are easily brought under control by kicking the rudder full in the opposite direction of spin. When combined with pressing the stick full forward the spin is rapidly exited; power can be left on or chopped as the pilot desires.

   Nasty Habits & Quirks

    Poor elevator control at low speeds can lead to a very ugly stall-spin in which the tail rides low. Thankfully this only becomes a problem when nearly vertical. Slow control response at low speeds can get you into trouble fast, especially if you are being attacked. To avoid low speed problems, it's best to keep airspeed above 230 mph and at least 2,000 feet of altitude. A shockingly fast ratchet turn (vertical 90º snap roll) is only possible at moderate to low speeds. However, this ratchet turn can pose problems for inexperienced pilots. Hard vertical maneuvers can and will lead to inverted spins. This is especially true if airspeed is not high enough for the maneuver and the pilot is ham-fisted with the stick.
   Crossing controls during low speed flight will lead to trouble. Thankfully this aircraft is not subject to the violent snap-spin the Fw-190 is noted so well for. However it does have small wings, and rather large control surfaces, which makes it inherently unstable. Accordingly, low speeds have a detrimental effect on handling. High-speed flight poses little if no problems and compression can be easily avoided by pointing the nose up. If speed must be lost in a hurry, cross the controls (hard aileron and opposite rudder) after cutting power.

   Translated into pilot talk

   I told one guy something about the Fw-190, which applies to the Yak. Don't try anything fast in it when you're slow. Don't yank on the stick, don't try hard, sharp turns, and don't even think about pulling anything in the vertical. Why? Because it'll dump that right wing like you'd dump your 500 pound Aunt off at Burger King. And it'll spin faster than your room does when you've got a hangover. When a Yak gets slow, she turns really nasty in a big hurry. She'll snap-stall off on the right like a 190 does if you pull up hard, and to boot it'll probably duck into an evil tail-low spin. Get the preacher, a casket, and maybe your Mom.....cause without a miracle you'll be continuing this life as a pancake.

   Personal Notes

    The Yak-9U is a speed demon around 10,000 feet with an excellent control response and staggering maneuverability. As long as a pilot knows the vices of the 9U he can pretty much do anything short of turn-fighting. Gunnery is almost the same as flying a Bf-109; get in close and shoot with everything. Ammunition supply is very limited. For the 9U only 120 rounds of 20mm cannon shells are carried along with 160 rounds for each machine gun. As a result you can only expect to hit targets at close range when dogfighting. Long range shooting is something best left to the aerial snipers. And the Tin Horns who haven't learned to shoot worth a damn.