Description
The Lavaochkin La-7 was a Soviet fighter aircraft of WWII. It was a refinement of the Lavochkin La-5. The Lavochkin La-7 had a more powerful engine, better armament and incorporated aerodynamic improvements. The Ash-82 FNU radial engine generated 1,850 hp (1380 kw) and the armament was increased to three ShVak 20mm cannon. Some of Russia’s top aces flew them, including Ivan Kozedub, three time hero of the Soviet Union, the number one allied ace with 62 victories, all of them while flying Lavochkin fighters. The last was a La-7, which he flew in 1944. He shot down 17 German aircraft, one of them being a Messerschmitt Me-262 jet.
