Author Topic: La7 ..how does it rate ? (Read 1181 times)

Laika · « **on:** February 03, 2001, 05:33:00 AM »

I was wondering how the La7 rates against the La5 and other rides in the main arena ?

Am I close in thinking it’s a La5 with some refinements that make it faster, has 3 faster firing 20mm instead of 2 slower, A bit less range, better hi alt performance, under wing rockets as a option. (anything else ?)

Leonid how much impact do think the La7 will have on the main arena ? I don’t have any spec’s that I’d call reliable for Russian fighters ver the rest. Faster and with a extra cannon sounds to good to be true

Laika

Hans · « **Reply #1 on:** February 03, 2001, 06:54:00 AM »

The information I have on the La-7 says that it is a refined La-5FN.

Its manufactured with less wood and more metal as part of the fuselage, and changes in the airframe and wing shape. It has the same engine as the La-5FN. Extenally you can see the small air intake above the engine is gone. This should inprove forward visibility a bit.

Bassically its a lighter, more areodynamic version of the La-5FN.

Armament is the same as the La-5. There were two Lavochkin factories. One built their aircraft with two 20mm Besin cannons (the La-5 we have comes from this factory), and the other factory built their Lavochkins with three cannons (one side was a twin mounting).

Hans.

leonid · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2001, 07:34:00 AM »

The La-7 is basically a La-5FN that has been aerodynamically refined, and lightened. The B-20 cannons were much lighter than the ShVAKs, so much so that three B-20s with 450 rounds was no heavier than two ShVAKs with 400 rounds. About 200 B-20 La-7s saw action late in the war, all the rest being armed with two ShVAKs.

The combination of aerodynamic refinement and lightening of the airframe resulted in an average speed increase of 15-20mph(24-32km/h), improved performance, and higher performance ceiling. In terms of AH, this means the La-7 should perform like a Yak-9U, except be noticably faster.

[This message has been edited by leonid (edited 02-03-2001).]

Laika · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2001, 08:01:00 AM »

So is there any news if the AH La7 will be the 3 cannon model?

leonid · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2001, 09:20:00 AM »

I was told by HTC that the 3 gun loadout would be available.

Vermillion · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2001, 10:45:00 AM »

Quote

In terms of AH, this means the La-7 should perform like a Yak-9U, except be noticably faster.

Well... Yes and No.

If we go by the "production" performance of the La7, which is the performance used for the FM in Aces High for the La5Fn and Yak-9U, the La7 will be faster than the Yak-9U on the deck but will be slower at altitude.

Some important performance figures (La7 numbers are for the x3 cannon version), all taken from the same source for comparability. Source: Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War Vol 1. By Gordon & Khazanov (FYI which match the numbers on current La5FN and Yak-9U in AH exactly)

La5FN La7 Yak-9U
Horsepower 1470 1470 1500
Wing Area(sq ft) 189.3 189.3 184.6
Gross Weight(lbs) 7,323 7,308 7,036
Speed at SL (mph) 356 381 357
Speed at Alt(mph) 385 411 417
Climb to 5km(min) 4.7 5.3 5.0
Turn Time360(secs) 19 20.5 20
Op. Range (miles) 360 413 419

So basically the La7 is a comparable counterpart to the Yak-9U. The La7 will have better deck speed and better guns, while the Yak-9U will be better at altitude and have better visibility. Otherwise, they are very similar.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure

funked · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2001, 01:09:00 PM »

An asterisk for Verm's post:
The Gordon and Khazanov tables show the normal power of the M-82FN engine, which is 1,460 hp at 15,250 ft. The augmented takeoff power (WEP) was 1,850 hp.

This aircraft is about 1500 lb lighter than a Fw 190A-5 but with 150 more hp.

[This message has been edited by funked (edited 02-03-2001).]

leonid · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2001, 11:41:00 PM »

Verm,
My data is not from that book, but from official NII VVS records. The max speed results I posted(in another thread) were taken from a serial production La-7(#45213276, plant No.21) in April 1945.

[This message has been edited by leonid (edited 02-03-2001).]

Vermillion · « **Reply #8 on:** February 04, 2001, 09:01:00 AM »

I know Leonid, I was just saying that since both the La5FN and Yak-9U match the Gordon and Khazanov tables, I was using the similar tables as a reference point.

Hey... no arguements, I would enjoy the improved performance of your documents.

But given Pyro's past history on the whole "prototype/production" issue (which is a misnomer anyway due to translation issues IMO), I figure that the VVS planes will always get the "dirty end of the stick"

**Pyro smacks Verm in back of head**

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure

brady · « **Reply #9 on:** February 04, 2001, 10:05:00 AM »

Aside from the refinements mentioned above, the Ospery Enclyopedia of Russian Aircraft mentions the following improvements over the La-5FN:

Better propeller blades and hucks dogs , improved cockpit,gyro horizon,better radio tuning, improved reflector sight(PBP-1B(V))apparently entered service in May of 44...Production terminated early 46 at 5,753 planes(kinda seams like more than just a couple hundred saw service, the book also states that several units used the La-7 in combat and many famous aces got their kills in it.

After all is said and done I am very happy to see the La-7, it was a favorite of mine in FA II and I kind of missed it, also it will have rockets (I hope) so will give the VVS a little more punch

Brady

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[This message has been edited by brady (edited 02-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by brady (edited 02-04-2001).]

[This message has been edited by brady (edited 02-04-2001).]

Wotan · « **Reply #10 on:** February 04, 2001, 11:30:00 AM »

no mention of climb rate?...... fa2's la7 would climb forever without stall i know fa2 fm was porked beyond pork but does anyone have climb stats?

(edit) i'm blind i see it in verm's chart hnx anyway

[This message has been edited by Wotan (edited 02-04-2001).]

Jekyll · « **Reply #11 on:** February 05, 2001, 04:01:00 AM »

Hmmm interesting. The La7 has the same wing area as the La5, the same engine output, and is a few pounds lighter, yet climbs to 5 km slower than the La5 and does not turn as well.

Anyone have an explanation for that?

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=357th Pony Express=
Aces High Training Corps

Duckwing6 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 05, 2001, 06:04:00 AM »

Ok now how do i fight one in my D-Hog ?

DW6

Vermillion · « **Reply #13 on:** February 05, 2001, 07:07:00 AM »

Duck, its real simple

stay above 15k, or you die

The biggest weakness of the La7 is also the biggest weakness of the La5FN, altitude. Anything above 15k and you might as well forget it, and to be really honest you can notice the performance loss at just 10k. The one reason I may stick with the Yak-9U is that it will stay competitive up to 20k and fightable up to 25k, while the La5/7 suffers at the 10/15 I mentioned above.

Jekyll, I wondered the same thing. The only thing I can think of is just a normal variability in performance from aircraft to aircraft, and pilot quality/familiarity. Good Question.

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Vermillion
**MOL**, Men of Leisure

aknimitz · « **Reply #14 on:** February 05, 2001, 10:33:00 AM »

Why exactly is it that the La5/7 perform poorly above 15K? I have not really noticed, but then again most fights I have with the la5 are below 10K.

Nimitz