Lavochkin La-7

The Lavochkin La -7 (Russian Лавочкин Ла -7) is a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. She was a further development of the La - 5FN with the aim of creating an aircraft with better flight performance with the same engine.

History

As with the design of the LaGG - 3 to the La -5, we tried to increase the speed here by some favorable aerodynamic changes as well as weight savings. In contrast to the La -5 La -7 was completely closing chassis panels that were moved into the interior of the air inlets and the oil cooler to the rear under the cockpit. The armament was also amplified, revised the interior of the cabin.

Development began in 1943/44, under the name La -120 and from mid-1944 received the frontline units, the first machines. The best Allied fighter pilot of World War II, Ivan Koschedub, also flew the La - 7 and thus scored the last of his 62 victories. His machine can be seen in the Central Museum of the Air Forces of the Russian Federation in Monino. Another La -7 is located in the Prague Museum / Kbely in the Czech Republic where this guy was flown under the designation S -97 until 1950.

The La -7 was the last produced in wood / metal composite construction fighter aircraft Lawotschkins and the most powerful of the USSR used during the Second World War this Article Overall 5753 La - 7 were prepared in the aircraft factories Moscow and Yaroslavl.

Versions

  • La-7U/La-7UTI: two-seat training version with a smaller fuel gauge and only a cannon
  • La - 7TK: TK -3 with two turbochargers equipped in July / August 1944 tested high-altitude fighter, not built in series
  • La -126: version with modified wings, and two under -mounted auxiliary ramjet engines, three piece built and tested to 10 January 1945. Formed the basis for the La - ninth
  • Tested in serial production variant with two ramjet engines Bondarjuk WRD -430 under the wings, June-September 1946: La-7S/La-126PRWD
  • La-7/PuWRD: also equipped with two jet engines test pattern
  • La-7R/La-120R: tested in late 1944 version with rocket engine RD- 1ChS or SchRD -1 in the rear. Two machines were built. The engine designation stands for Chimitscheskije Saschiganije ( Химические Зажигание, chemical ignition) or Schidkostny Raketny Dwigatel ( Жидкостный Ракетный Двигатель, liquid rocket engine )

Specifications

Comparable types

  • United Kingdom United Kingdom: Supermarine Spitfire
  • United States United States: Curtiss P-40, North American P -51 Mustang
  • Soviet Union Soviet Union: LaGG -3 Lavochkin La -5, Yakovlev Yak -1, Yak- 3, Yak- 9
  • Japan Japan: Nakajima Ki -44, Ki -84, Kawasaki Ki-61, Ki -100
  • Deutsches Reich Nazi Germany: Focke- Wulf Fw 190
Allies Lavochkin La-9 ShVAK cannon Berezin B-20 Yakovlev Yak-3 Kawasaki Ki-100 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Lavochkin La-11 Lavochkin La-17 Lavochkin La-160 Lavochkin La-168 Lavochkin La-190 Lavochkin La-200
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