I thought it was time to share another Russian fighter pic. The Yak-3 is probably my favorite Russian fighter of WWII. In the back of my mind it looks like a Spitfire and a Mustang got together one night after binging on vodka and conceived the Yak. I've seen this one fly and I have to say it's quite sleek and fast. If I'm not mistaken this particular aircraft is flying with a Merlin engine which is maybe why I said the former about it looking (and sounding) like those other fighters. It was one of the best fighters the Russians produced during WWII, perhaps second only to the Lavochkin La-7. A dissenting vote has some legitimate credentials. Well known Luftwaffe ace Gerhard Barkhorn, who shot down 301 aircraft, stated “I fought against all types of Soviet fighters, including those supplied under Lend-Lease, and the Yak-9 was the best.” I guess I have been out voted as I have no air-to-air kills to my name. Thanks for looking!
