Lavochkin La-9 "Fritz"

Lavochkin · Soviet Union · first flew 1946 · fighter

The Lavochkin La-9 was a high-performance Soviet piston fighter that entered service in 1946, representing the pinnacle of Soviet piston-engine fighter development. Its laminar-flow wing and four-cannon armament gave it excellent low-altitude performance.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.63 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Late Soviet piston fighter with laminar-flow wing
ASh-82FN radial in NACA cowling
Four 23mm NS-23 cannon armament

The La-9 closely resembles the La-7 but has an all-metal structure and a revised wing planform. The ASh-82FN radial engine in an NACA cowling without external chin radiators distinguishes both the La-9 and La-11 from earlier Lavochkin types that needed external cooling.

Specifications

The Lavochkin La-9 has a length of 8.63 m (28 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.8 m (32 ft).
Its maximum speed is 690 km/h (429 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

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

History

First flying in 1946, the La-9 was designed with an all-metal laminar-flow wing — a major advance over the earlier wooden structures used in wartime Lavochkin fighters. It entered service just as jet fighters were beginning to supplant piston types.

Variants

The La-11 was a long-range escort variant with additional fuel and reduced armament; no other major production variants were produced.

Where you'll see it

The La-9 served with the Soviet Air Force in the late 1940s and was exported to China and North Korea; Chinese-operated La-9s and La-11s encountered USAF aircraft during the Korean War.

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