Lavochkin produced two notable fighters during the defense of the Soviet Union in World War 2 (1939-1945), these being the La-5 and La-7 series. The La-9 was in development by war's end and became a direct development of the La-7 by way of the La-126, a late-war prototype. The Lavochkin La-9 was eventually adopted by the Soviet Air Force and codenamed "Fritz" by NATO. When compared to the La-7 before it, the La-9 represented the same aircraft through with all-metal construction and of slightly larger dimension. The aircraft began operational service during 1946 - to late to see action in World War 2 - and went on to serve in the inventories of a few Soviet-supported countries including China, Romania, and North Korea. Its production run covered two years and totaled 1,500 examples. The La-9 also marked one of Lavochkin's last piston-engined fighters before the shift to jet-powered types in the ensuing years.
The La-9 featured a conventional arrangement with a low-wing monoplane and single-seat cockpit. The fuselage was well-streamlined and its tail-dragger undercarriage retractable (including tailwheel). Armament consisted of 4 x 23mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannons with 50 projectiles afforded each gun. The all-metal construction of the aircraft allowed engineers to save structural weight which produced increased fuel capacity and greater operational ranges. The weight-saving also allowed for the inclusion of the large-caliber 23mm cannons in the nose.
Power came from a Shvetsov ASh-82FN air-cooled radial piston engine (driving a three-blade propeller) complete with two-stage supercharged and fuel-injection for increased power. Output was 1,850 horsepower, propelling the La-9 to speeds of 430 miles per hour and ranges of 435 miles. Its service ceiling measured 35,400 feet with a rate-of-climb of 3,510 feet per minute.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
Length
28.3 ft (8.63 m)
Width/Span
32.2 ft (9.80 m)
Height
11.7 ft (3.56 m)
Empty Wgt
12,822 lb (5,816 kg)
MTOW
16,647 lb (7,551 kg)
Wgt Diff
+3,825 lb (+1,735 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base Lavochkin La-9 (Fritz) production variant)
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
La-130 - Prototype
La-9 - Base Fighter Model Designation
La-9UTI - Two-Seat Conversion Trainer
La-132 - Proposed Prototype Variant fitted with Shvetsov M-93 engine; never produced.
La-9M - Prototyped Long Range Variant
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Left side profile illustration view of the Lavochkin La-9 Fritz fighter; color
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Soviet Union; China; Romania; North Korea
