Lavochkin La-7

Fighter (Testbed)

Engine: 1x Shvetsov ASh-82 FN piston engine

Wing Span: 9.80 m

Length: 8.60 m

Weight: Empty 2,638 kg / Loaded 3,400 kg

Maximum Speed: 680 km/h

Ceiling: 9,500 m

Range: 990 km

Crew: 1

Armament: 3x 20mm cannons

History:
The La-7 was developed from the the La-5FN in 1943, using may light-alloy parts as well as numerous refinements to the basic design, the La-7 became an outstanding aircraft, more than able to take on the German fighters like the Fw 190 and Me 109G.

However ways of gaining better performance were looked at and like other Soviet aeroplanes the La-7 was fitted with deferent booster engines two of which were jet engines (the other being a Glushko RD-1 liquid fuel rocket engine fitted in the tail)

The La-7S was fitted with two Bondaryuk VDR-430 ramjets under it's wings. Flown in September 1946 it managed a increase in top speed of 64 km/h.

The La-7 PuVRD or PVRD had two RD-13 pulsejets fitted under the wings, which gave it a top speed of 800 km/h at 8,000 m