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Soviet Lavochkin La-5 fighter1,2,3,4
Lavochkin La-5 fighter:
Design
Semyon Lavochkin started working on the design for the Lavochkin La-5 / LaG-53 in October 1941.1,3
The Lavochkin La-5 was based on the Lavochkin LaGG-3.1,4 The La-5 also had an all wood construction.1
Wing
The wing was constructed of plastic bonded wood veneer strips.1
There were five self sealing fuel tanks in each wing.1 To improve maneuverability the outer two tanks were usually left empty.1
The control surfaces were light allow with a fabric covering.1
Tail wheel
The tail wheel was retractable but was unreliable.1
Tail
The elevator and rudder were made of an alloy frame with fabric covering.1
Fuselage
The rear fuselage was cut down to allow for better visibility than the LaGG-3.2,3
Prototype
The La-5 prototype first flew in March 1942.4
The acceptance trials for the La-5 prototype was completed in May 1942.2,3
Production
First entered production in July 1942 with approximately 1,182 built by the end of the year.1,2,3
Around 12,000 Lavochkin's were produced.1
- La-5: 1,1823, 9,9204
- La-5FN:
- Total: 21,8753 (includes La-7)
Variants
- La-5:
- La-5N: Appeared in March 1943.4 The engine was a fuel injected M-82FN.4
- La-5FN: Appeared in 1943.1
- La-5UTI: Trainer.2,3,4 Two seats.4 Armament was usually removed.4
Usage
Liked for it's low level dog fighting, the La-5 was liked by it's pilots and many of the Soviet aces flew the La-5.1 The ace of aces, Ivan Kozhedub, flew the La-5 and shot down 62 enemy planes.1,2 He flew La-5s, La-5FNs, and La-7s from March 26, 1943 to April 19, 1945.3
Stalingrad
The first large use of the La-5s were over Stalingrad.1,2,3,4
Kursk
Lavochkin La-5s escorted Il-2 Shturmovik's during the battle of Kursk.1 The La-5s would also be used as tank busters, and once they expended their heavy weapons they would climb to be escorts for the Il-2s.3
After World War II
The Lavochkin La-11, the last piston fighter, was used by Communist forces in 1960.1
| Lavochkin LaG-53,4 | Lavochkin La-5FN1,2,3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter3,4 | Fighter1,2,3 Fighter bomber3 |
| Crew | 14 | 11,2,3 |
| Engine (Type) | M-823 | Shvetsov M-82FN1,4 M-82FN piston2 ASh-82FN piston3 |
| Cylinders | Radial3 | Radial1,3, Radial 144 |
| Cooling | ||
| HP | 1,6003 | 1,6501,2,3, 1,8504 |
| Propeller blades | 31,2,4 | |
| Fuel capacity | ||
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 32'1, 32' 1.75"3, 32' 2"4, 32' 5.75"2 9.8 m1,3,4, 9.9 m2 |
|
| Length | 27' 10.75"2, 28'1, 28' 2.5"4, 28' 5.3"3 8.5 m2, 8.6 m4, 8.67 m1,3 |
|
| Height | 8'1, 8' 4"2,3, 9' 3"4 2.54 m1,2,3, 2.82 m4 |
|
| Wing area | 189 ft2 1, 189.3 ft2 3, 201.8 ft2 2 17.59 m2 1,3, 18.75 m2 2 |
|
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 5,737 lb1, 5,743 lb3, 6,173 lb2,4 2,605 kg1,3, 2,800 kg2,4 |
|
| Loaded | 7,407 lb4, 7,408 lb2,3, 7,932 lb1 3,360 kg1,2,3,4 |
|
| Performance | ||
| Speed | 403 mph1 650 kph1 |
|
| Speed @ 16,405' / 5,000 m |
402 mph2,3 647 kph2,3 |
|
| Speed @ 21,000' / 6,400 m |
403 mph4 648 kph4 |
|
| Climb | 3,600'/minute4 1,097 m/minute4 |
|
| Climb to 3,280' / 1,000 m |
0.35 minutes2 | |
| Climb to 16,000' / 5,000 m |
5 minutes1,3 | |
| Service ceiling | 32,8004, 32,810'2, 36,000'1, 36,090'3 10,000 m2,4, 11,000 m1,3 |
|
| Range | 435 miles2, 475 miles1,3,4 700 km2, 765 km1,3,4 |
|
| Armament | ||
| Above engine | 2: 20 mm4 2: 20 mm ShVAK1,2,3 |
|
| OR | 2: 23 mm NS1,2,3 (later aircraft)2,3 | |
| Under wings | Rockets or light bombs4 331 lb bombs2,3, 350 lb bombs1 150 kg bombs2,3, 158 kg bombs1 |
|
| OR | 4: 3" rockets1, 3.23" rockets2 , 3.23" RS-82 rockets3 4: 82 mm rockets1, 82 mm RS 82 rockets2,3 |
|
| OR | 2: PTAB anti-tank weapons3 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- The Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II, General Editor Chris Bishop, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
