Warplanes of Russia: Lavochkin La-7

Lavochkin La-7

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

The Lavochkin La-7 (Лавочкин Ла-7); NATO reporting name: Fin), was a piston-engined single-seat Soviet fighter aircraft developed during the Second World War by the Lavochkin Design Bureau. It was a development and refinement of the Lavochkin La-5, and the last in a family of aircraft that had begun with the LaGG-1 in 1938. Its first flight was in early 1944 and it entered service with the Soviet Air Forces later in the year. A small batch of La-7s was given to the Czechoslovak Air Force the following year, but it was otherwise not exported. Armed with two or three 20 mm (0.8 in) cannon, it had a top speed of 661 kilometers per hour (411 mph). The La-7 was felt by its pilots to be at least the equal of any German piston-engined fighter. It was phased out in 1947 by the Soviet Air Force, but served until 1950 with the Czechoslovak Air Force. (Wikipedia)

(G.F. Petrov Photo)

La-7 fighters at the airfield. On the left, with tail number 06, armed with three B-20 guns.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7, prototype, 1944.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7, first production copy of La-7 plant number 381.

Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7, number 38105758 plant number 381.

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(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7 with synchronous cannons NS-23.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7.

(Swedish Nationaal Archief Photo)

Lavochkin La-7 crash in Sweden in 1949, by a defecting Soviet pilot.

(Vitaly Ragulin Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Lavochkin La-7, c/n unknown. One of only two genuine La-7s known to survive, this famous aircraft is the actual fighter flown by Soviet ace Ivan Kozhedub. Kozhedub is regarded as the best Soviet ace of the Second World War, having a natural gift for deflection shooting. In 330 combat missions he took part in 120 engagements and scored 62 victories including an Me-262. W It is on display in Hangar 6A at the Central Air Force museum, Monino, Moscow Oblast, Russia.

(Башин Денис Анатольевич Photos)

Lavochkin La-7,  Nizhny Novgorod.

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Lavochkin La-7, Kbely Museum, Czech Republic.

(Soviet Air Force Photo)

Lavochkin La-7 UTI.

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