Lavochkin La-5 Low-to-Medium Altitude Fighter - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 10/8/2009

The Lavochkin La-5 series was fielded in great quantities since its inception, taking part in some of the great Soviet-German battles of World War 2.

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Design of the Lavochkin La-5 series of low-to-medium altitude fighters was spurred on by a need for equipment capable of matching or exceeding anything the German Luftwaffe was fielding. Initially caught by surprise by the German incursion of 1941, Soviet forces were found to be ill-equipped to even defend their soil against the might of the perfected Blitzkrieg. Soviet aircraft designers and production facilities were just starting to get involved in the mass war effort needed to combat the likes of the Third Reich. The La-5 series of aircraft was a step in the right direction, appearing in production form almost as soon as it had appeared as a prototype, apparently yielding to the school of thought that "any aircraft was better than none". Fortunately for the Soviet Air Force - and the Soviet Union for that matter - the La-5 proved to be a versatile, robust, heavy-hitter capable of matching the Luftwaffe fighters tit for tat. By the end of the conflict, nearly 22,000 of the La-5 and the similar La-7 would have been produced as the system went on to see combat in some of the large-scale battles between the Soviet and German nation.

The design approach to the La-5 was quite different to Lavochkin's previous attempt as in the LaGG-3 series. The La-5 featured a shortened rear fuselage with the cockpit positioned near the exact middle of the fuselage with the low-mounted monoplane wings just below and forward of the pilot's position. The fuselage was of a featureless tube-like design with a short-rising vertical tail surface and rounded engine cowling at front. The forward design of the aircraft was dominated by the noticeable propeller hub which would go on to become the stable design element of other Lavochkin aircraft during and following the war. Armament consisted of 2 x 20mm cannon mounted in the nose - basically just after the propeller and embedded into the oversized engine cowling.
The La-5 reached "definitive" status in the La-5FN model featuring an uprated engine and provision for rockets. A two-seat trainer in the form of the La-5UTI was also featured in production.

The La-7 appeared in 1944 with an improved engine and therefore improved performance. The system was equally capable of taking on any German piston-engine fighter of the war and eventually saw much action against the retreating Germans. The La-7 sported the ASh-82FN powerplant that allowed for speeds of up to 423 miles per hour making it one of the fastest of its type during the war. Armament consisted of 3 x 20mm OR 23mm cannons offering up extensive firepower to couple with the high-speed performance characteristics.

The Lavochkin La-5/La-7 series of aircraft would eventually produce the highest scoring Allied pilot of the Second World War in Soviet pilot Ivan Kozhedub, completing the war with an astounding 62 aerial victories. Interestingly enough, Kozhedub would accomplish this feat while flying in all versions of the aircraft during the war - a testament to the effectiveness of the platform. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
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Specifications for the
Lavochkin La-5
Low-to-Medium Altitude Fighter

Country of Origin: Soviet Union
Manufacturer: Lavochkin - Soviet Union
Initial Year of Service: 1940
Production: 21,975

Focus Model: Lavochkin La-5FN
Crew: 1

Length: 28.44ft (8.67m)
Width: 32.15ft (9.80m)
Height: 8.33ft (2.54m)
Weight (Empty): 5,743lbs (2,605kg)
Weight (MTOW): 7,408lbs (3,360kg)

Powerplant: 1 x ASh-82FN radial piston engine delivering 1,650hp.

Maximum Speed: 402mph (647kmh; 349kts)
Maximum Range: 475miles (765km)
Service Ceiling: 36,089ft (11,000m; 6.8miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 3,281 feet per minute (1,000m/min)

Hardpoints: 4
Armament Suite:
2 x 20mm ShVAK cannons (23mm NS cannons on later production models)

Up to 331lbs of external ordnance.

OPTIONAL:
4 x 3.23-inch rockets

Variants:
LaG-5 - Developmental Designation

La-5 - Production Designation

La-5FN - "Definitive" La-5 Model; appearing in 1943; fitted with an ASh-82FN engine of 1,650hp; provision for 4 x 3.23-in rockets OR 2 x PTAB anti-armor weapons along with the standard 2 x 20mm cannon battery; later production aircraft to feature upgunned 23mm cannons.

La-5UTI - Two-Seat Conversion Trainer

La-7 - Late Wartime Production Model based on the La-5 design; fitted with 3 x 20mm OR 23mm cannons and ASh-82FN powerplant.

Operators:
Czechoslovakia; Soviet Union

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