i found a german test report for a La5-FNW. Seems to be equal to a La5-FN. I try to translate it with my poor english
The test was done by H.W. Lerche, a test pilot for captured aircrafts at Rechlin (later, after the war - together with Hanna Reitsch - a member of an american test pilot society)
The report is from March 1945, so i think when he talks of a 109 he means a G10, G14 or maybe even a K4
Commentaries from me in brackets{}
i don´t translate everything
start >>>>>
Summary:
The La5 is in comparison to the earlier russion fighter aircrafts very much improved. The performance below 10000ft is remarkable. The maximum speed is in every altitude lower than the max.speed of our fighters, the best climbrate is near the ground between the 109 and 190. The La-5 is especially for the 190 below 10000ft a dangerous enemy in a climb and turn. Deficiencies in some properties shouldn´t be a problem for russian pilots who are used to bad flight characteristics. The range is short, operation time is ~40min with combat power
Data:
"Rüstgewicht" (empty weight with some stuff already): 2773kg
fuel: 354kg
oil: 46kg
Ammunition: 94kg (2*200round)
pilot:80kg
=>Takeoff weight: 3347kg
wingspan: 9.80m
wingarea: 17.5m^2
wingloading: 191 kg/m^2
takeoff power: 1850PS
armour:
to the front: 57mm bullet-proof glas
to the back: 68mm bullet-proof glas for the head and 7mm armour {steel plate}
Performance:
combat power (cp): 1.36ata @2400min-1
emergency power (ep): 1.605ata @2500min-1
maxspeed with
ep @ 0km : 520kmh
cp @ 0km : 490kmh
ep @ 1km : 540kmh
cp @ 2,4km : 540kmh
cp @ 5km : 560kmh
cp @ 6,5km : 540kmh
{The AH-La5 is faster}
climbrates with
cp (0-3km) : 16-17 m/s
cp (4km) : 13m/s
cp (7km) : 8-9m/s
service ceiling : 8-9km
It is not allowed to use emergency power when the supercharger is activated. The critical altitudes are so low, that the full emergency power can´t be achived in a climb or a horizontal flight with the use of the supercharger
The surface, especially from the wing, is good, the slats are fitted well into the wing.
Flight characteristics
....
The stability around the "Längsachse" {axis controlled with the elevator} is surpising good, even in a climb with full engine power.
Static direction-stability {huuu i hope you understand what i try to translate} is present with normal rudder forces, which dwindle very much in a slow flight. dynamic direction stability is weak, the damping is bad. Oscillations are reduced only slowly. But the oscillation time (at 450kmh in 2000m ~3sec) is not so short that a pilot can´t stop them immediatly.
The effectiveness of the aillerons is excellent. At 450kmh the rolltime is ~4sek. 600kmh is the limit where ailleron forces still allow quick "Ruderlegegeschwindigkeiten" {that means that you can push quickly your stick to the left or the right}
Slow Flight
At 210-200 kmh the Slats come out, the forces of the aillerons decrease. At 180kmh the rolldamping seems to disappear. If you pull your elevator harder now, the elevator forces disappear abrupt
{unfortunatly there are missing now some sentences in the report, where the author describes the bad behaviour of the La-5 in a slow turn}
In 2400m ... and 2.6g ^67°rollangle and 30sec circle.... "Überausgleich" is present {don´t know what überausgleich means, something that ailleron control disappear i think}.... the smallest circle times are ~ 28-30sek.
This means a minimum cirlcetime of ~25sec with emergency power in 1000m.
Tactical conclusions
The La5 is corresponding to the engine power designed for the fight in low altitudes. The max. speed is a little bit less near the ground compared to the 190 and 109 (both emergency power).
The 109 is with mw50 in all altitudes superior in max. speed and best climb. Accereration is supposed to be smiliar.
Circle times of the La5 are near the ground better than the 190 and WORSE {!!!!!} than the 109 {so circle time for the 109 is...20sek? 22sek? in AH- 26sek?
}
In best climbrate the 190 is worse up to 3km, too. Due to more weight the 190 accelerates worse, but is superior in all situations where you push your elevator and in a flat escape with high speed.
Except for sudden evase manoevre is it corresponding to more weight and higher wingloading right to push the elevator, and to escape with a flat climb with high speed to reach a new position to attack. (La5 has best climb in a steeper angle), not to slow down and to avoid the turnfight, because
russian pilots who are used to bad flight-characteristics probable won´t be impressed by the described bad behaviour of the la5 in a turn.
<<<end
i hope that was interestig and my english not too bad
niklas
