Favorite Aircraft of the Eastern Front

What is your favorite aircraft used in this theatre? You don't have to give justification, i.e. how effective it was, etc.

Mine for the Axis would be the Ju-87G. I can't get enough of those flak kanonen.

stuka5_enl.jpg

For the Russians... the Pe-2.

pe-2_a.jpg

 

That's a toughie. Pe-2 was the first one that came to my mind too. But I'm sure you already know that it's a wide net. I think just about everything put in at least a token appearence except maybe the British heavies. Even the B-29

 

That's definitely true! haha I didn't realize how broad the question was. i guess I could rephrase to say favorite German/Russian/Finnish/Rumanian aircraft, but that would be no good... hmmm. I get myself in these pickles way too often. lol

 

Yak-3 - formidable dogfighter at lower altitudes.

 

Even though the Soviets fielded some formidable fighters, I would have to give the edge to the ME 109 In this category. For what are now called "strike fighters"I believe the Il 2 edges out the Stuka. Best medium bomber, JU 88.

 

Since I have a penchant for radial engines, the FW-190 & La-7 are my tops.

 

Just to be a wiseguy

Love the aerial.

 

Ditto Hufflepuff. Love the Stuka Tank Killer.

 

Yaks!

 

Having actually sat upon a Mongolian Yak, I really must say they don't make terribly good aircraft at all. Perhaps the Russian version had wings, or mayhap I missing something...

 

Yak Fat custard....MMMM....I mean you're right...what was i thinking...Yaks fly? When pigs fly!...maybe.
Yak9

 

Well who knows? There are still classified Soviet files... perhaps they recognized the potential of this hairy winged beast and decided to keep it secret, to protect mankind... or parachute KBG agents into Nepal... or... something...

 

The Hurricane of course...

 

A soft spot for the P-39 who found a welcome home there from the locals.

Certainly better aircraft, but I am a sucker for a happy ending!

 

I was just thinking of that one myself. In particular the fact that the Soviets took a plane the US considered almost useless and turned it into something very useful.

 

Re. The P 39: given that the cockpit door opened into the slipstream, what was the drill for bailing out?

 

Well, he did say favorite. But then again, after a 17 July 44 fight where 8 Yak-3s attacked a flight of 60 German aircraft resulting in the loss of 3 JU-87s and 4 Bf109Gs with no Yak losses, the Luftwaffe reportedly issued an order stating "avoid combat below five thousand meters with Yakovlev fighters lacking an oil cooler intake beneath the nose".

 

The doors were jettisoned during emergency exit.


Edit

Here's a training movie. The door latches are shown at the 10:00 minute mark


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwksKXoDALI

 

Given the state of pilot training in the Reich at that time, I don't doubt that a Red Guards fighter outfit could have worked over a Luftwaffe fighter force. The quality of the pilots determines a lot.