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La-7 file photo [123]

La-7

CountryRussia
ManufacturerLavochkin
Primary RoleFighter
Maiden Flight1 November 1943

Contributor:

ww2dbaseThe La-7 (Ла-7) fighters were based on the design of La-5. The characteristic that set the La-7 fighters apart from their predecessors was the usage of metal alloy components, where their predecessors were made of mostly wood. The prototype took flight in Nov 1943, and by next spring they were already in combat service. Though few in number, La-7 fighters were rather liked by those pilots who flew them. On 15 Feb 1945, Ivan Nikitovich Kozhedub's La-7 shot down a Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, the only Russian fighter pilot to achieve that in the war. Later in the war, the La-7 platform was used to test rocket and jet propulsion, though none of them came to fruition as the next generation of Russian fighter aircraft. A total of 5,753 were built.

ww2dbaseSource: Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Sep 2006

SPECIFICATIONS

La-7
MachineryOne Shvetsov ASh-82FN radial engine rated at 1,850hp
Armament2x or 3x20mm ShVAK cannons, 200kg of bombs
Span9.80 m
Length8.60 m
Height2.54 m
Wing Area17.50 m²
Weight, Empty2,638 kg
Weight, Loaded3,265 kg
Weight, Maximum3,400 kg
Speed, Maximum680 km/h
Rate of Climb15.72 m/s
Service Ceiling9,500 m
Range, Normal990 km

Photographs

A La-7 aircraft resting on a snowing airfield, circa 1940s




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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Anatoly says:
20 Dec 2006 05:39:20 PM

Again, as in many other places, the same mistake: the maximal speed for Russian La-7 is 425 mlsh, not kmh. This speed stands for respectable ~700 kmh, which is pretty much true for this outstanding aircraft.
2. Commenter identity confirmed Hobilar says:
22 Sep 2007 03:24:35 AM

During 1944 attempts were made to improve the performance of the La-7 for short periods by installing a liquid-fuel rocket motor in the extreme rear fuselage. This rocket motor, the power of which has never been revealed, boosted maximum speed by ten to fifteen per cent for brief periods, and was considered sufficient to permit its service introduction on a small scale, although it is believed that La-7s so equipped were confined to the units of the PVO (Protivozdushnoi Oborony, or Protective Air Force).

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A La-7 aircraft resting on a snowing airfield, circa 1940s


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