Lavochkin La-5

The Lavochkin La-5 was a WW2 Soviet fighter aircraft. It was developed from the LaGG-3, performing its maiden flight in March 1942. Mass production of this new monoplane began in July 1942 as more than 1,000 La-5s would be produced by the end of that year. Equipped with a powerful engine and cut-down rear fuselage, it would become one of the greatest fighters of World War II. It was fast and very maneuverable.

The first large-scale use of the Lavochkin La-5 took place in 1942 over the city of Stalingrad and the Volga River. It was here, and later over Kursk, where it showed to be a lethal and efficient dog-fighter, especially when flying at low altitudes. Soviet aces shot down many Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Me-110 between 1942 and 1945, flying the La-5 and La-7. The most widely used versions was the La-5F and La-5FN. These aircraft had a fast rate of roll.

Technical Characteristics

This Russian fighter aircraft was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane. It was fitted with straight wings which were mounted low on the fuselage, with a wide base that tapered towards the end. Five self-sealing fuel tanks were contained in each wing. Its excellent low-speed handling was due in part to the automatic slats on the leading edges of wings.

The basic wing construction of the La-5 consisted of birch wood, cross-grained and impregnated with a resin mixture and covered in plywood. Most of the fuselage was also built from wood, using only scarce metal alloys. Thus, its rugged and basic construction made it easy to repair and maintain in the field after minor damage.

Specifications

Type: fighter/interceptor

Length: 8.67 m

Wingspan: 9.80 m

Wing Area: 17.59 sq. meters

Height: 2.54 m

Power Plant: one Shvetsov M-82FN, radial piston engine, delivering 1,650 HP.

Maximum Speed: 650 km/h (403 mph)

Range: 765 km (475 miles)

Armament: two 20-mm Shvak cannons; one 150-kg bomb.

Below, the Lavochkin La-5F version of the 21st Fighters Regiment parked on an airfield in the Summer of 1944.

The La-5 in flight in 1943 during the Battle of Kursk.

The photo below was taken in the Summer of 1942