Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-1
Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov · Soviet Union · first flew 1940 · fighter
The LaGG-1 was a Soviet single-seat fighter of all-wood construction that entered service in 1941, serving as the direct predecessor to the improved LaGG-3.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Rounded wingtips and oval cross-section fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- All-wood stressed-skin construction — nicknamed 'Varnished Guaranteed Coffin'
- Single-seat low-wing monoplane with inline engine
- Rounded wingtips and oval cross-section fuselage
Distinguished by an all-wood fuselage with a smooth oval section, a long-chord cowling housing the liquid-cooled Klimov engine, and moderately tapered wings with rounded tips.
Specifications
- The Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-1 has a length of 8.81 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 500 km/h (311 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by a trio of engineers — Lavochkin, Gorbunov, and Gudkov — the I-22 prototype first flew in March 1940. Though promising on paper, the LaGG-1 proved overweight and underpowered, earning a grim nickname among Soviet pilots.
Variants
The LaGG-1 was quickly supplanted by the LaGG-3, which featured aerodynamic refinements and went into large-scale production; the LaGG-1 itself saw only limited production.
Where you'll see it
The LaGG-1 saw brief frontline Soviet service in 1941 before being overshadowed by the LaGG-3 and later by the radial-engined La-5.
Related aircraft
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