Lavochkin La-190
Lavochkin OKB · Soviet Union · first flew 1951 · fighter
The Lavochkin La-190 was a Soviet experimental jet fighter prototype of 1951 featuring a sharply swept wing at 55 degrees and a bicycle undercarriage, claimed to have achieved the first level supersonic flight by a Soviet aircraft. The single prototype demonstrated the limits of Soviet aeronautical ambition in the early jet age.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.35 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Soviet swept-wing jet fighter prototype with nose intake and bicycle undercarriage
- 55-degree wing sweep; claimed first Soviet supersonic flight in March 1951
- Single prototype; Lyul'ka turbojet; programme ended in favour of MiG-19
A sleek mid-wing jet fighter with a very sharply swept wing, nose intake, and the distinctive bicycle main undercarriage with outrigger wheels near the wingtips. The narrow fuselage and extremely swept wings distinguish it from contemporary Soviet fighters.
Specifications
- The Lavochkin La-190 has a length of 16.35 m (54 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.9 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1190 km/h (739 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flying on 21 February 1951, the La-190 was powered by a Lyul'ka AL-5 turbojet with a nose intake and achieved a claimed speed of Mach 1.03 in March 1951 in level flight. However, the bicycle undercarriage proved operationally problematic and the design's handling characteristics were not considered suitable for service use. The programme was terminated in favour of the competing MiG-19, which entered production as the Soviet Union's first supersonic fighter.
Variants
Single prototype only.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service.
Related aircraft
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