La-5 (LaGG-5) (1942-44) - Variants
La-5F frontline fighter (1943-44)
Lavochkin maintain close contact with the front, he took into account the comments and recommendations of the pilots working on the improvement of the La-5 . The disadvantages of the latter include a high temperature in the cabin due to poor insulation of the engine and the lack of ventilation, the difficulty in managing (inherited "inherited" from the LaGG-3), is not enough reliable operation of weapons.
During the 1942-1943 OKB conducted a number of improvements to the aerodynamics and controllability of La-5. Direction - Traditional: reduction of weight machines at the same time trying to raise engine output. The mass reduced by eliminating the wing fuel tanks (on Lugg), reducing the thickness of bronespinki.
In December 1942, Engine Building Design Bureau issued a modification of the motor Shvetsov M-82 - M-82F, which had extended hours at takeoff. In fact, the operation of the engine was the nominal (M-82 had a 10-minute limit). In practice, it gave an increase in combat power 200-300 hp Since the beginning of 1943 began equipping La 5 forced motors M-82F. Lightweight La-5 with M-82F engine went into production under the designation La-5F. On airplanes La-5F was improved visibility from the cockpit by lowering the rear of the fuselage and the installation of a new lamp. The armament was similar to La-5. As such, the aircraft became one of the most common on the front.
Compared with the most maneuverable version Messerschmitt - Bf 109G fighter La-5F had superiority in vertical and horizontal maneuver to an altitude of 3500 m above the benefits of moving to the "Messer". But Focke-Wulf FW-190 in maneuverability La-5F excelled at all altitudes.
La-5F Commercially produced from February 1943 to April-May 1944 at plants ##21, 99 and 381.
La-5FN fighter
The La-5FN modification of the fighter La-5F (1943-44) was the most perfect modification of the La-5. When creating aircraft designers have implemented all measures to improve aerodynamics recommended TSAGI based on extensive research in wind tunnels; downsized design and set new, more powerful engine M-82FN (from 1944 - AL-82FN because engines have been designated the initials designers).
Motor M-82FN had a system of direct injection of fuel into the cylinders, which greatly increase reliability because there is no need to adjust multiple carburetors. Shortly after the beginning of production was modernized aircraft controls. As a result, La-5FN was one of the most easily manageable fighters, perfectly kept in a deep bend, and had not only high speed and rate of climb, but also excellent maneuverability. Armament fighter was similar armament La-5, La-5F. The prototype of La-5FN "doubler" has been tested in March 1943. (Test Pilot - Major Mishchenko GA). La-5FN combat tests took place in July and August 1943 at the Bryansk Front and Kursk.
Mass started using La-5FN Kursk. There collided in the air two new items prepared for the summer fighting opponents 1943 - La-5FN and Focke-Wulf FW-190A. Fights have shown that as a fighter, "Fokker" inferior "Lavochkin". During the Battle of Kursk occurred become legendary dogfight senior lieutenant AK Gorovets, was posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. Zam. commander of a squadron of 88 Guards Regiment AK Horowitz knocked down nine dive bombers Ju-87 (similar to the case was the only one in the history of the Great Patriotic War), but on the same day, returning to the airfield, was killed in a battle with four enemy fighters.
The famous aviator A. Maresiev, returning to action after the amputation of legs, fought at La-5FN and battles at Kursk and in the Baltic States shot down 7 enemy aircraft.
In 1943, La-5FN was the strongest fighter on the Soviet-German front. As a result, "acquaintance" with the new machine Lavochkin, German pilots were ordered "in any case not to lose speed and avoid prolonged air combat." Serial production of La-5FN was produced almost entirely by the end of 1944 to #21. Were built (at the plants number 21, #31, #99, #381) 10002 copies aircraft La-5 of all modifications.
In 1943, for the development of the fighter SA Lavochkin was awarded the title Hero of Socialist Labor.
La-5 UTI training Fighter (1943)
In order to prepare flight staff in 1943, the factory #21 (Gorky) was built by an experienced double training aircraft La-5 UTI with motor M-82F. Open (without canopy) cockpit instructor was located between the 5th and 8th frames. With the machine lifted a gun SP-20, it was replaced by a can of compressed air. For training aircraft redundant steel and bulletproof glass bronespinka system of neutral gas and bomb armory. Abandon the radio.
In piloting the aircraft is not very different from the combat of La-5, except for hypersensitivity to pulling knob. Testing UTI La-5 was satisfactory. Series production began in 1944, and the release of UTI La-5 was transferred to plant #163 (Penza).
Despite the fact that the equipment of the aircraft was extremely simplified in order to maintain the number of produced combat aircraft, the plane was "flying desk" for pilots, mastering martial La-5. In 1944. #163 factory started to produce 5 UTI La-MK (upgraded from the rear cabin). Release UTI La-5 lasted until the end of 1945.
La-5/7TK3 High-altitude fighter (1943-1945)
Since 1941, the German high-altitude planes Ju-86 (ceiling 14,400 m) committed with impunity flights over Moscow, conducting aerial reconnaissance. Available armed with Soviet aircraft were not prepared for firing at high altitudes at low temperatures. It was necessary to urgently equip air defense fighters and high-altitude oxygen equipment.
In 1943, on the instructions of the State Defense Committee Lavochkin Design Bureau began work on the creation of high-altitude fighter by fitting a plane La-5 turbo-TK-3 design CIAM. Installation of two TK-3 dramatically improved high-altitude performance of the motor, allowing the ceiling to increase and speed. In the first phase of work as a flying stand was used serial aircraft La-5. Tests have shown the prospects of such a power plant.
It is possible to move to the second phase - the installation of TC-3 serial La 5FN, designated "FTC". Factory tests "FTC" revealed the need to continue work on the final design of the power plant with the TC. At the same time, the Design Bureau was designed and built high-altitude fighter "A". It was intended to remove air combat at altitudes of 13-13.5 km. For ceiling height of about 14 km apart from the installation of TC were increased wing area and tail, installed a new screw removed reservations and one gun. However, during factory test aircraft crashed.
In 1944, work on the creation of high-altitude fighter continued on the basis of series of La-7. In July 1944, they started production tests. In view of the long finishing with EMG TC test one experimental machines, which received factory index "116", continued until the beginning of 1946, after which they were suspended as lost relevance. The hopes pinned on the Yak-9PD Dollezhal with superchargers, and the MiG-11 with turbochargers, were unjustified. Soviet air could not do anything to stop the German Ju-86 aircraft.
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