Lavochkin/Gorbunov/Gudkov LaGG-3

1940

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Lavochkin/Gorbunov/Gudkov LaGG-3

The LaGG-3 was essentially the series production version of the LaGG-1 with a revised outer wing incorporating fuel tanks, and an armament of one 20mm and two 7.62mm weapons. Fixed wing slats - later replaced by automatic slats - were introduced and balance weights were added on the elevators and rudder, but were later discarded in favour of statically and dynamically balanced surfaces. Weight was reduced as a result of a structural analysis. LaGG-3 deliveries commenced in the spring of 1941, initially with the M-105P engine, but, from late in the year, with the M-105PF affording 1260hp at 800m. Provision was later made to replace one or both machine guns by weapons of 12.7mm calibre, the 20mm hub-mounted cannon being replaced by one of 23mm calibre in some cases, and a pair of 12.7mm underwing guns was sometimes fitted. Three aircraft were each fitted with a 37mm cannon and referred to as LaGG-3K-37s, and one example was fitted with the 1650hp Klimov M-107A engine. Production of the LaGG-3 was completed in the late summer of 1942 with a total of 6,528 built.

Lavochkin/Gorbunov/Gudkov LaGG-3

Specification 
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3190 kg7033 lb
  Empty weight2620 kg5776 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan9.8 m32 ft 2 in
  Length8.9 m29 ft 2 in
  Wing area17.5 m2188.37 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed570 km/h354 mph
  Cruise speed450 km/h280 mph
  Ceiling9700 m31800 ft
  Range800 km497 miles

3-View 
Lavochkin/Gorbunov/Gudkov LaGG-3A three-view drawing (1670 x 1230)

Lavochkin/Gorbunov/Gudkov LaGG-3

Comments
lxbfYeaa, e-mail, 14.03.2024 06:29

20

reply

brian, e-mail, 14.02.2016 16:23

Does anyone know the speed of the yak-9m with the vk105pf-2 engine? I've looked all over.

reply

Ron, e-mail, 11.03.2012 08:14

Aaron, I think the series -66 was the late model LaGG-3 you refer to prior to the radial LaG-5. Am I wrong?
At first sight your -37 reminds me of the 37mm hub cannon armed LaGG-3 but then you mention the standard guns.
What am I missing? Could you please expand on that a little for us?
Certainly it was better against bombers and ground attack than tackle enemy fighters since it was typically no stall fighter before the weight was trimmed. It had a tendency to spin out till then. Many crash landings were due to stalling on the approach. Nice to see it finally develop into a halfway competent dog-fighter in the end of it's run.
In fact early LaG-5 pilots wanted their LaGG-3-66 back!
But Lavochkin persevered with a more powerful radial and other refinements until it outperformed the -66, then the latest Fw 190 and Bf 109 too! In fact some would say the La-7 was finally better than even a Yak.

reply

Aaron, e-mail, 25.06.2011 16:14

I'm not going to go into detail on each of the many variants of this type. For the most part the LaGG-3 was underpowered /overweight and sluggish by VVS standards and compaired to other USSR fighters. It dove well and was very rugged like the P-40. But, in April 1943 a lightened and improved model was approved for production after its fist flight. The LaGG-3-37 when flown by Yuri Shipov in front of the VVS proved that it was capable of turning with a Yak-9D and outclimb it. In service it proved to be more than a match for any Bf.109 it met in combat and had no difficulties in encountering the Fw.190 in 1944. The number of this type was relitively small because production was terminated in autumn of 1943 in favor of the La-5.
The following performance is typical for the LaGG-3-37:
M-105PF: 1,260hp WE. 1xUBS (12.7mm). 806m /s 1,000rpm. Bullet weight: 40g. Penetration: 20mm @ 350m.
1xShVAK (20mm). 800m /s. 800rpm. Bullet weight: 96g. Penetration: 25mm /150m. 15mm /300m.
Max.Speed: 339mph /SL. 372mph /12,497ft. Climb: 3,680fpm /SL. 16,400ft /5.1min. Ceiling: 35,960ft.

reply

Ron, e-mail, 06.05.2011 01:42

The M-105PF powered LaGG-3 toward the end of 1941 could do negative 'g' dives (Ditto for the Yak).

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Ronald, e-mail, 03.09.2008 06:24

Beware the VYa-23. It could penetrate most any armor in the air! The ShVAK 20mm was certainly faster but was light by world standards for the caliber. The VYa was like two 20mm cannon. The Volkov-Yartsev-23mm fired a 200g projectile containing 10g of HE or penetrate 1 inch armor at 400m (1,300') with AP rounds. It's muzzle velocity was 905mps!! It made the IL-2 famous. Rate of fire ranged from 370-600rpm.

reply

Ronald, e-mail, 03.09.2008 04:54

Salvo of fire = 2.88kg /sec. (2 ShKAS, 2 UBS +1 UB)early.
= 2.00-2.72kg /sec. (1 UBS +1 ShVAK or VYa-23).
Climb to 5km = 6.8-8.5 min.
360 turn = 20-26 sec.

reply

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