Lavochkin La-7

Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft

Soviet Union | 1944

"The Lavochkin La-7 prop-powered fighter appeared as an improved La-5 in the later years of World War 2."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/30/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Lavochkin La-7 was an improved variant of the preceding La-5 form. It incorporated a new Shvetsov engine, uprated to increased the mount's maximum speed though, on the whole, it remained largely the same aircraft with a new designation. Other subtle changes were incorporated based on combat actions with the La-7 and first flight of a modified prototype was in February of 1944. Service entry then followed rather quickly in September of 1944. The La-7 led a relatively short operational service life though, being retired during 1950 - the jet age now taking hold. Production of La-7 fighters numbered 5,753 units.

As completed, the La-7 sported similar lines to the original La-5. The cockpit was heavily framed and situated at amidships. The mainplanes were set under and ahead of the cockpit floor. The engine was shrouded over in a rounded cowling with a large spinner capping the three-bladed propeller unit. The tail was tapered and formed the curved vertical fin which mounted mid-set tailplanes on either side. The fuselage spine was only slightly raised to degrade vision to the rear but required for the internal volume it allowed engineers. The undercarriage remained a tail-dragger arrangement with two main legs and a tailwheel - all retractable.

Power was through a single Shvetsov ASh-82FN 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine of 1,650 horsepower. This drove a three-bladed VISh-105V-4 series propeller blade assembly at front. Maximum speed reached 411 miles per hour of late-war models and ranges out to 415 miles. Service ceiling was 34,300 feet and rate-of-climb a strong 3,095 feet-per-minute.

Standard armament began as 2 x 20mm ShVAK cannons with 200 rounds afforded each gun. This could be substituted with 3 x 20mm Berezin B-20 series cannons with 100 rounds per gun. As with the La-5 before it, the La-7 retained performance qualities in the low-to-medium altitude range which meant it a stable platform for the fighter-bomber role as well as a fighter. For this role, the La-7 could also be outfitted with air-to-surface rockets and up to 440lbs of conventional drop ordnance.

Beyond the Soviet Air Force, the La-7 was only utilized by the Czechoslovakian Air Force.

The only definitive production variant became the La-7UTI which served as a trainer model. This incorporated a second seat for the instructor at the expense of internal volume. 584 of the type were produced into 1947. Other one-off variants included the La-7TK used in testing a turbosupercharger development and the La-7R to test a rocket motor propulsion system. The La-7PVRD was similar in scope and used in testing of a pair of ramjet installations under the wings. Another one-off model became the La-7/M-71 which fitted a Shvetsov M-71 engine during 1944.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lavochkin La-7 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft.

1 x Shvetsov ASh-82FN 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine developing 1,650 horsepower.
Propulsion

411 mph
661 kph | 357 kts
Max Speed

34,285 ft
10,450 m | 6 miles
Service Ceiling

413 miles
665 km | 359 nm
Operational Range

3,095 ft/min
943 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Lavochkin La-7 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

28.2 ft
8.60 m
O/A Length

32.2 ft
(9.80 m)
O/A Width

8.3 ft
(2.54 m)
O/A Height

5,512 lb
(2,500 kg)
Empty Weight

7,385 lb
(3,350 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Lavochkin La-7 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft .

STANDARD:
2 x 20mm ShVAK cannons OR 3 x 20mm Berezin B-20 cannons.

OPTIONAL:
Up to 440lbs of external ordnance including rockets and conventional drop bombs.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lavochkin La-7 family line.

La-7 - Base Series Designation; definitive production form; improved La-5.

La-7UTI - Two-seat trainer; 584 exampes

La-7TK - Turbosupercharger testbed; single example.

La-7R - Rocket engine testbed; single example.

La-7PVRD - Ramjet engine testbed; single example.

La-7/M-71 - M-71 engine testbed; single example.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lavochkin La-7. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 5,753 Units
Contractor(s): Lavochkin - Soviet Union

[ Czechoslovakia; Soviet Union ]

1 / 1

Image from the Public Domain.

Similar
Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Lavochkin La-7 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft.

Lavochkin La-5

Lavochkin La-9 (Fritz)

LaGG-3

Going Further...
The Lavochkin La-7 Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter Aircraft appears in the following collections:

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