Lavochkin La-150

Lavochkin OKB · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Lavochkin La-150 was the Soviet Union's first purpose-designed turbojet fighter, a single-seat prototype of 1946 featuring a straight mid-wing and nose intake powered by a Soviet-built copy of the German Jumo 004 turbojet. It was part of an immediate post-war rush to develop jet combat aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

• Early Soviet straight-wing jet fighter with nose intake
• Single RD-10 (Jumo 004 copy) turbojet mounted in fuselage
• Short, stubby fuselage with mid-mounted straight wing

A compact, barrel-like jet with a circular nose intake and straight mid-mounted wings. The absence of swept surfaces distinguishes it clearly from later Soviet jet fighters.

Specifications

• The Lavochkin La-150 has a length of 9.42 m (31 ft).
• It has a wingspan of 8.2 m (27 ft).
• Its maximum speed is 878 km/h (546 mph).
• Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Designed rapidly after the end of the Second World War using captured German jet engine technology, the La-150 flew in 1946 alongside competing designs from Mikoyan-Gurevich and Yakovlev. Though it reached an impressive speed for its era, it was not selected for production as the more capable MiG-9 and Yak-15 were preferred.

Variants

A small number of prototypes were built; the La-150F and La-150M were proposed developments with refined aerodynamics but did not proceed to production.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; remained a prototype programme used to accumulate jet flight experience within the Soviet aviation industry.

Related aircraft

• Lavochkin La-200
• Lavochkin La-190
• Avia S-92
• Commonwealth CA-15
• Hughes XF-11
• Junkers EF 126

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.