Lavochkin aircraft

[JG52Uther]

Lavochkin La-152 1946

Despite its designation, the La-152 bore little more relation to the La-150 than its common design bureau origin. The wing, although similar in planform to that of the earlier fighter, employed a new profile of only 9.1% - the thinnest section adopted up to that time in the Soviet Union - and was lowered to mid position. The RD-10 turbojet was retained, but to avoid the duct losses suffered by the La-150, the power plant was installed in the extreme nose, exhausting beneath a sturdier rear fuselage. The CG position was restored by moving the cockpit aft, and armament comprised three 23mm NS-23 cannon. Work on the La-152 was, in fact, initiated by the Lavochkin bureau within two months of a start being made on the La-150, possibly as a result of latent doubts concerning the efficacy of the configuration of the earlier fighter. Thus, factory flight testing began in October 1946, only a few weeks after the La-150 had entered flight test. Three prototypes were built in parallel, all similarly armed and differing primarily in power plant, the second and third aircraft being designated La-154 and La-156 respectively. The La-154 was to have been fitted with a Lyulka TR-1 turbojet of 1350kg, but was never flown owing to difficulties with this engine. After initial trials with a standard RD-10, the La-156, which had increased tankage and had initially flown in February 1947, was fitted with an RD-10F engine equipped with an afterburner extension boosting thrust by 30%. The RD-10F-equipped La-156 was flown for the first time in September 1947 - the first Soviet aircraft to fly with an afterburning engine - and attained a max speed of 905km/h at 2000m. The flight test programme continued until the end of January 1948.

Specification
MODEL La-152
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight 3239 kg 7141 lb
Empty weight 2310 kg 5093 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan 8.20 m 26 ft 11 in
Length 9.12 m 29 ft 11 in
Wing area 12.15 m2 130.78 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed 778 km/h 483 mph
Range 492 km 306 miles

Lavochkin La-9 1946

Closely related to the La-126, the La-130 - first flown on 16 June 1946 - embodied a number of refinements, both aerodynamic and structural, and featured a revised fuel system of increased capacity. It retained the ASh-82FN radial of the preceding fighters, but provision was made for a quartet of 23mm NS-23 cannon. Series production was authorised in November 1946 as the La-9, deliveries to the VVS commencing February 1947 from GAZ 21 at Gor'kiy. A tandem two-seat training version, the La-9UTI, was flown in July 1947, and
series production continued for three years, 1,630 single-seaters and 265 two-seaters being built.
One example, designated La-138, was fitted with two PVRD-430 ramjets of 300kg underwing, factory testing being performed during March and April 1947, and increases in level speed of 107 to 112km/h were recorded in level flight. A small batch of aircraft was completed with underwing provision for RD-13 pulsating athodyds, or pulse-jets, as La-9RDs. These boosters were found to have a deleterious effect on handling characteristics.

Specification
WEIGHTS
Take-off weight 3676 kg 8104 lb
Empty weight 2660 kg 5864 lb
DIMENSIONS
Wingspan 9.8 m 32 ft 2 in
Length 8.6 m 28 ft 3 in
Wing area 17.7 m2 190.52 sq ft
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed 690 km/h 429 mph
Ceiling 10800 m 35450 ft
Range 1735 km 1078 miles