Picture courtesy of WARPLANES OF WORLD WAR II
| Lavochkin La-5 | |
Лавочкин Ла-5
|
|
|
Picture courtesy of WARPLANES OF WORLD WAR II |
| The La-5 was developed from the LaGG-3
because of heavy demand from the Soviet Air Force that required a modern
fighter that could hold its own in combat with the German fighters. The La-5
had the same wooden based structure fuselage as the La-3, but was given the Shvetsov M-82F radial engine that produced 992kW (1330hp).
Production began about July 1942 and the first unit to receive these new fighters was the 287th Fighter Air Division (under the control of the 8th Air Army) that was under the command of Colonel S.P. Danilin. The fighter was very competent and proved its worth against the German ME 109's. Early in 1943 Lavochkin decided to overcome some climb inadequacies by giving the aircraft the new M-82FN direct-injection engine. This powerplant was able to produce 1126kW (1510hp). With this modification, the aircraft was designated the La-5FN. 1st Czech Fighter Regiment was equipped with the La-5FN. |
|
|
| Lavochkin La-5FN | |
| Powerplant | 1215kW (1630hp) M-82FN radial engine |
| Max Speed | 647km/h (402mph) at 5,000m (16,404ft) |
| Time To Climb | 5 minutes to 5,000m (16,404ft) |
| Service Ceiling | 11,000m (36,089ft) |
| Max Range | 765km (475 miles) |
| Wing Span | 9.8m (32ft 1in) |
| Length | 8.67m (28ft 4in) |
| Height | 2.54m (8ft 3in) |
| Empty Weight | 2,605kg (5,743lb) |
| Max Weight | 3,402kg (7,500lb) |
| Armament | 2x 20mm nose cannons |
| 4x 8.2cm (3.23in) RS-82 rockets, or | |
| 150kg of bombs. | |
