Lavochkin La-5
Lavochkin · Soviet Union · first flew 1942 · fighter
The LaGG-3 airframe mated to a powerful Shvetsov radial, the La-5 transformed a mediocre fighter into a competitive one and gave the VVS a radial-engined type to complement the inline Yaks.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large M-82 (ASh-82) air-cooled radial cowling — wider and blunter than any Yak, immediately distinguishing the La-5 from all contemporary Soviet inline-engine fighters
- Tall, uncut spine retained on early La-5s; the cockpit framing is high and the canopy sits within a pronounced fairing
- Two 20 mm ShVAK cannon visible as widely-spaced muzzles atop the cowling rather than in the wings
The wide radial cowl immediately separates all La-5/7 variants from the Yak family. Against the La-7: the La-5 has a taller, more framed canopy and a slightly less refined cowl with fewer blisters.
Specifications
- The Lavochkin La-5 has a length of 8.67 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 580 km/h (360 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Entering service in mid-1942, the La-5 was rushed to Stalingrad where it proved capable against the Bf 109G and Fw 190. Its radial engine was more robust under battle damage than the liquid-cooled Klimov, and the aircraft required less maintenance.
Variants
La-5 (early, high spine), La-5F (reduced canopy framing), La-5FN (direct fuel injection Ash-82FN, the key performance version). The FN is subtly identifiable by its revised cowl air intakes.
Where you'll see it
Surviving La-5s are museum pieces; Russian aviation museums hold examples. The type does not appear at Western airshows.
Related aircraft
- Lavochkin La-7
- Lavochkin La-152
- Lavochkin La-9
- Lavochkin La-11
- Aichi E16A Zuiun
- Bell P-59 Airacomet
- Bell P-63 Kingcobra
- Bereznyak-Isayev BI-1
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 5,024 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.