La-7

La-7

La-5FN

La-7B-20

La-7

La-5FN

La-7B-20

USSR

III Rank

Battle rating:

AB	RB	SB
4.3	4.7	5.0

Class:

Fighter

Research:26 000

Purchase:76 000

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Description

The La-7 is a Rank IV Soviet fighter with a battle rating of 4.0 (AB), 4.7 (RB), and 5.0 (SB). It was in the game since the start of the Open Beta Test prior to Update 1.29.

The La-7 is an effective mid-low altitude interceptor. It has many unique capabilities that make it an exceptional fighter. As the successor of the La-5/F/FN, it has a more powerful engine and improved aerodynamics.

General info

Flight Performance

Characteristics
Stock
Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
647	632	10,450	20.3	20.7	11.6	14.1	348
Upgraded
Max Speed (km/h at 6,250 m)		Max altitude (meters)	Turn time (seconds)		Rate of climb (meters/second)		Take-off run (meters)
AB	RB		AB	RB	AB	RB
711	677	10,450	18.7	19.0	28.5	18.5	348

Details

Features
Combat flap	Take-off flap	Landing flap	Air brakes	Arrestor gear
✓	✓	✓	X	X

Limits
Wing-break speed (km/h)	Gear limit (km/h)	Combat flap (km/h)	Max Static G
			+	-
735	320	530	~21	~21

Optimal velocities
Ailerons (km/h)	Rudder (km/h)	Elevators (km/h)	Radiator (km/h)
< 350	< 350	< 440	> 230

Compressor (RB/SB)
Setting 1
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
1,550 m	1,670 hp	1,959 hp
Setting 2
Optimal altitude	100% Engine power	WEP Engine power
4,700 m	1,410 hp	?,??? hp

Survivability and armour

• 8.5 mm Steel - Armor plate behind pilot's seat (with upgrade = 10 mm total)
• 55 mm Bulletproof Glass - Fore canopy
• 66 mm Bulletproof Glass - Rear canopy/headrest (with upgrade = 75 mm total)

Armaments

Offensive armament

The La-7 is armed with:

• 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons in the nose (170 rpg = 340 total

Suspended armament

The La-7 can be outfitted with:

• Without load
• 2 x 50 kg bombs (100 kg total)
• 2 x 100 kg bombs (200 kg total)

Usage in the battles

The La-7's instrument panel.

The key to staying alive in the La-7 series lies in using evasion and deception to destroy the enemy. Start by flying at around 4.5 km altitude as you present yourself as an easy target for Boom & Zoom aircraft that are flying at higher altitudes. Maintain a high energy level/speed (conceal your energy as well). When you spot someone diving at you, break off and evade his burst, and then chase him and return your own bursts, or, if he turns, engage in turning combat. Watch your opponent, however. Spitfire (Griffons) can, for the most part, out turn an La-7 while other planes such as the FW-190 D are far inferior at turning. It is possible to force overshoots on Spitfires by going into scissors. Acceleration on this plane is excellent at low-medium altitude (below 3 km where WEP still work). Additionally, the La-7 can be an effective mid-alt Boom and Zoom/ energy fighter- when most opponents have been destroyed and the rest are engaging below you, the La-7, with its effective climb rate as well as acceleration/energy retention, can be unstoppable.

One habit you have to take to heart is aiming strategies/skill. The 2 cowling-mounted ShVAks are quite ineffective in side on approaches as well as longer range fire due to the fact that there is little spread to the cannons and low damage and hit detection compared to comparable 20 mm cannons such as the Hispano and MG-151. The low spread allows for greater damage upon hitting your opponent- if used correctly, the cannons can be extremely lethal. Ground Targets belts have the most HE shells in their composition; these are the most versatile as they are extremely effective against planes as well as Ground targets.

Another habit worth developing in the La-7 is ammo conservation, it is crucial to only take shots that you know will hit and aiming them carefully. This way you stand a bigger chance of critically damaging the enemy airplane. By following those rules you will soon find yourself researching the final Lavochkin piston fighter - the La-9.

The aircraft are placed quite low in the Battle Rating spread, which means that you will still engage Era III aircraft. Do not underestimate them. If flown up to their respective strengths, Planes as the Bf 109 G-2 and Spitfire MK.Vc are superior to the La-7 The strengths of both La-7 variants lie in very good low altitude performance - ideally, you want to engage your enemies at altitudes lower than 5 km - higher up, the power output of the engine reduces drastically, making you an easy target. Aside from the speed, the La-7 possesses very good turning capabilities - while it is not as good a turner as some British and Japanese designs, it can give many German and US aircraft a run for their money.

Manual Engine Control

MEC elements
Mixer	Pitch	Radiator			Supercharger	Turbocharger
		Oil	Water	Type
Controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Not controllable	Separate	Not ontrollable	Not controllable

Modules

Tier	Flight performance		Survivability	Weaponry
I	Fuselage Repair	Radiator	Armored Glass	DZ-40
II		Compressor	Airframe
III	Wings Repair	Engine	Rear Armor Plate	Offensive 20 mm
IV		Engine Injection	Cover	New 20 mm Cannons

Four upgrades are of importance: Offensive 20 mm, Compressor, Engine and Engine injection.

Pros and cons

Pros:

• Excellent low altitude performance (< 3,000 m/9,843 ft).
• Decent maneuverability.
• Great acceleration and rate of climb.
• Good roll rate.
• Center-mounted cannons- can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your aiming ability.
• Decent cockpit visibility.
• Good speed in level flight.
• Pilot armor options.
• Bomb options.
• has less of a stock syndrome than most other tier IV aircraft.

Cons:

• Poor performance at high altitude (> 4,000 m/13,124 ft).
• Poor maximum dive speed.
• Fast-firing cannons means you have to be more diligent with ammo conservation.
• Tends to bleed energy.
• Center-mounted cannons can be difficult to master.
• Poor stock belts.
• Relatively poor durability- wings tend to rip at higher speeds compared to contemporaries.
• Jack-of-all trades fighter- no specialized job means that the La-7 isn't dedicated to tasks like Boom and Zoom.

History

The concept of a new fighter for the Soviet Air Force was pitched in 1943. While the earlier Lavochkin La-5 proved to be one of the best Soviet fighters produced up to that point, the main designer of the La-5, Semyon Lavochkin, felt that it could be improved even further. Work on a completely new fighter began in the early months of 1944. The new fighter was supposed to be an improved version of the La-5 design. The changes included the incorporation of a lighter and more durable metal air frame in place of the earlier wooden one. Other changes included the mounting of a new gun sight and propeller, as well as the strengthening of the landing gear struts and streamlining of the wings. It was to be armed with three Berezin B-20 20 mm cannons, however the delay in production meant that most new La-7s were armed with 2 x 20 mm ShVAK cannons, like its predecessor. After more tests, the new fighter was accepted into serial production in late 1944.

In September 1944, the first La-7s found their way onto the front lines with the 63rd Guard Fighter Aviation Corps. The reception of the new fighter was warm - it was faster and more maneuverable than the La-5, which meant it could more efficiently tackle the most common German fighter the Soviets faced: the Messerschmitt Bf 109 G. In certain circumstances, the speed allowed the Soviet pilots to intercept Fw 190 fighter-bombers - a feat impossible to achieve for other Soviet fighters like the Yak-3. The main critiques of the design were considered to be the engine reliability and armament - the twin 20 mm ShVAK cannons were judged as inadequate in fights against better armoured Fw 190s. Still, the La-7 became one of the most successful Soviet piston fighters of World War II. Soviet ace Ivan Kozhedub scored 17 kills while flying the La-7 - his last one being an Me 262 jet. After the war the La-7 was replaced by the La-9 prop fighter, although many were still used by other communist states as both fighters and trainer aircraft.

Media

DigitalDigging review

Viola Games overview

Messer Smitt gameplay

Read also

• [Vehicle Profile] Lavochkin La-7

Sources

Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:

• topic on the official game forum;
• page on aircraft encyclopedia;
• other literature.