Lavochkin La-11

The Lavochkin La-11 (NATO reporting name Fang) was an early post-World War II long-range piston-engined Soviet fighter aircraft.

Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Users 4 Specifications (La-11)

Development

One of the recommendations from the government testing of Lavochkin La-130 (Lavochkin La-9 prototype) was to further develop it into a long-range escort fighter. The resultant La-134 prototype (also sometimes referred to as La-9M) featured increased fuel and oil capacity. Armament was reduced to three cannons. The prototype flew in May 1947. The second prototype, La-134D had fuel capacity increased by an additional 275 l (73 US gal) with wing and external fuel tanks. The aircraft was fitted with larger tires to accommodate the increased weight and amenities for long flights such as increased padding in the seat, armrests, and a urinal. In addition, a full radio navigation suite was installed. Not surprisingly, combat performance with a full fuel load suffered. However, as the fuel load approached that of La-9, so did the performance. The aircraft was found to be poorly suited for combat above 7,000 m (23,000 ft). The new fighter, designated La-11 entered production in 1947. By the end of production in 1951, a total of 1,182 aircraft were built.

Operational history

First documented combat use of La-11 took place on April 8, 1950, when these fighters shot down an American Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer over the Baltic Sea with all 10 crew lost. Later the same year, La-11 shot down a Lockheed P2V Neptune. By July 1950, La-11 were flying combat air patrol missions over North Korea. The aircraft's main target during the Korean War was the Douglas A-26 Invader night bomber, although numerous skirmishes with North American P-51 Mustangs also took place. Attempts to intercept Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers proved fruitless. La-11 required 26 minutes to reach B-29's cruise altitude and once there had a speed advantage of only 20 km/h (12 mph) making it easy for the B-29 to evade the attacker in a shallow dive.

Users

 Soviet Union

• Soviet Air Force

 People's Republic of China

• People's Liberation Army Air Force

 North Korea

• North Korean Air Force

 Indonesia

• Indonesian Air Force

Specifications (La-11)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 8.62 m (28 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 9.80 m (32 ft 2 in)
• Height: 3.47 m (11 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 17.6 m² (189 ft²)
• Empty weight: 2,770 kg (6,107 lb)
• Loaded weight: 3,730 kg (8,223 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 3,996 kg (8,810 lb)
• Powerplant: 1× Shvetsov ASh-82FN air-cooled radial engine with a two-stage supercharger and fuel injection, 1,380 kW (1,850 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 674 km/h (419 mph) at altitude
• Range: 2,235 km (1,388 mi)
• Service ceiling: 10,250 m (33,628 ft)
• Rate of climb: 758 m/min (2,487 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 212 kg/m² (44 lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: 0.37 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)

Armament

• 3 × 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannons, 75 rounds/gun