russian engined soviet fighter developed world war development family aircraft begun flight early entered service soviet later year small batch given following year exported armed cannon speed kilometers hour mph felt pilots equal german engined fighter shot jet fighter phased served design development soviet head designer engineers russian felt improved refined earlier studies aerodynamic improvements airframe modified evaluate changes included complete sealing engine wing center section accommodate oil cooler relocation engine air intake improve pilot view aircraft evaluated december february proved exceptional performance engine standard speed kilometers hour mph height meters kilometers hour mph faster production took minutes climb meters faster low medium altitudes powerful prototype engine monitoring improvements began construction january improved version incorporated lighter stronger metal wing save weight predecessors built wood conserve strategic materials aircraft soviet confident supplies unlikely problem able replace wooden parts components addition number changes differed engine air intake moved engine wing roots wing fuselage streamlined engine cylinder provided exhaust pipe engine covers reduced number added cockpit longer shock fitted main landing gear tail wheel shortened improved installed new propeller fitted prototype mounted engine firing propeller standard russian modified aircraft designated test flights february march testing suspended engine failures quickly proved near equal kilograms lighter earlier aircraft allowed aircraft minutes minutes climb meters kilometres hour mph slower sea level kilometers hour mph slower meters flight tests modifications ordered production designation cannon ready production production retained cannon armament built march factory russian moscow accepted air_force month moscow factory fastest complete transition production built considerably slower change exhaust stock wooden wings october quality early production aircraft significantly issues engine incomplete sealing fuselage propellers aircraft tested problems fixed russian proved kilometers hour mph slower altitude aircraft factories evaluated september russian problems persisted aircraft reach kilometers hour mph height meters time altitude minutes meters combat trials began mid september generally positive aircraft lost engine failures engines suffered numerous lesser problems despite satisfactory service cause lower position engine air wing roots caused engine sand dust batch flawed wings built caused accidents fatal october caused fighter grounded cause determined defect wing production aircraft fitted cannon began january delivered aircraft kilograms heavier aircraft guns level speed slightly improved original aircraft time climb meters increased tenths second older model aircraft delivered war end total aircraft built production ended early operational history 63rd guard fighter aviation corps began combat trials mid september support 1st baltic thirty aircraft provided trials lasted month time new fighters individual sorties claimed aerial victories losing aircraft combat lost non combat causes related engine problems total pilots killed trials causes regimental commander colonel hero soviet_union commented exhibited advantages german aircraft multiple air addition fighter tasks photo reconnaissance bombing undertaken success aircraft speed especially landing characteristics requires changes armament urgent fixing engine twin armament inherited longer powerful bring later heavily armored german fighters especially single burst soviet pilots opened fire ranges meters 4th unit receive october point month fourteen aircraft simultaneously engine failures january line service increased aircraft invasion japanese assigned august flown soviet ace war nicknamed terrible time hero soviet_union scored air victories numbered preserved outskirts moscow german aircraft shot sergeant german frankfurt der february fighter regiment 1st composite aviation division later equipped participating august october total aircraft delivered equipped 1st 2nd fighter regiments bulk aircraft delivered saw combat war remained service designated postwar aircraft survives despite reports contrary sold transferred north_korea reports arose western pilots given countries british test pilot given chance fly test site baltic coast shortly german surrender described handling performance superb armament sights par wooden construction little combat punishment instrumentation basic production amounted aircraft plus trainers aircraft service end war given nato reporting fin follow model despite outward similarity completely new design tactical significance ended superiority vertical previously enjoyed soviet fighters furthermore fast low altitudes catch albeit difficulties fighter bombers attacked soviet units immediately returned german controlled speed engine lacked large margin speed overtake german raiders lost air combat half number variants aircraft evaluate july hopes improving high altitude performance destroyed flight tail mounted liquid rocket engine rocket rated kilograms force lbf thrust fuel imp gal gal imp gal gal red acid expected half minutes rocket firing increased fighter speed kilometers hour mph aircraft flying qualities deteriorated flights quarter rocket exploded ground aircraft repaired later explosion flight pilot managed land safely details later flights unknown displayed august rocket firing engines aircraft expected reach speed kilometers hour mph height metres exceed kilometers hour mph high drag aircraft fitted trials engine ready service program cancelled seat trainer version armament reduced single gun oil cooler relocated underneath engine fitted radio compass gun camera considerably heavier fighter kilograms retained flying characteristics single seat aircraft built delivered survivors aircraft number moscow monument moscow operators soviet specifications production model data world war general characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area gross weight powerplant cylinder row air cooled radial propellers bladed performance maximum speed mph meters range nmi model service ceiling rate climb min time altitude minutes meters armament guns mounted cannons rounds gun mounted cannons rounds gun bombs bombs
Lavochkin La-7