| The LA-5 is the successor of the model LaGG 1 and LaGG3 of Lavotchkine design office, the early models of this plane was mostrly of wooden construction, the new LA-5 was more classic construction with more use of light metallic materials, and have a radial engine in place of the in-line engine of LaGG 1 and LaGG 3. The early built LA-5 receive a twin radial 14 cylinders Chvetsov M-82A or M-82F developping 1330cv. All other LA-5 receive in fact a M-82Fn developping 1700cv Comparatively with the LaGG1 and LaGG3 the choice of a radial engine increase the drag of the plane, but only by 1 per cent. And the radial powered LaGG have a speed increased from 568km/h to 600km/h. As soon as the first test of the LA-5 poved that the choice of a radial engine increase performance the LaGG3 production was stopped and the LA-5 began to be built in series. The early LA-5 was built only few weeks, and was replaced by the LA-5Fn powered by the M-82Fn and with a rear fuselage modified to imporve the pilot's visibility. The armament consist in 2 x 20mm ShVAK with 200 rounds per gun, these guns are cowling mounted. A test between the new LA-5 and a captured Messerschmitt 109 G-2 , the planes of Lavotchkin was fastest of 45km/h and best manoeuvring under the altitude of 6000m, but above the Messerschmitt was better. In order to restablish the advantage of the LA-5 a new wing with less weight ( 172 kg ) was installed. Thousands of LA-5Fn was involved in the Koursk Battle and on the whole East front during 1943, and they proved thaht the russian aircraft can be dangerous adversairs. The LA-5 UTI was a two seat trainer. The LA-7 have his firepower increased by the installation of a third 20mm ShVAkk in the fuselage, the weight was again reduced in major part by the reduction of tank capacity, so the range of the LA-7 was reduced from 765km to 630km. This compact plane was a real challenge for the german fighters , the LA-5 was better under 6 or 7000m his 2 x 20 mm was not an execptionnel firepower but the 200 rounds by guns give it a fire time greater than germans planes wich carry most of time between 60 and 100 rounds per gun. The LA-5 was the plane of the Russian ace Ivan Kojedoub ,wich fly after the LA-7
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