The La 7 was a further development of the La 5 FN with the aim of catching an airplane at the same engine with better flight performances. So one tried to increase the speed by favorable aerodynamic changes as well as weight savings.
In contrast to La-5 La-7 got totally closing chassis disguising, the aerial finishes were moved in the inside and the oil cooler to the back under the pilot's cabin. The arming was also strengthened which reworks interior arrangement of the cabin.
The first prototype was completed in January 1944 and the maiden flight was carried out on February 2nd, 1944.
La-7 was the last fighter aircraft made in wood/metal mixed construction method Lawotschkins and most efficient of this kind, used from the USSR during the Second World War. All together were produced more than 5700 La-7 in the aircraft plants Moscow and Jaroslawl.
The most successful allied fighter pilot of the Second World War, Iwan Koschedub, also flew La-7 and achieved with it 17 firings.
Iwan Nikitowitsch Koschedub (* 8th of June, 1920 Obraschijewka, Ukrainian SSR; † 8th of August, 1991 Moscow, the Soviet Union) was a Soviet pilot, marshal of the airmen, triple hero of the Soviet Union and bearers of different high honourings.
He is credited with 64 individual air victories, most of them flying the Lavochkin La-5 and La-7 – the top scoring fighter pilot on the Allied side during World War II. He is one of the few pilots to have shot down a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet.
He was an acting commander of the 176th guard fighter pilot regiment since August 1944.
He commanded the 324th fighter division in the Koreakrieg as a commander.
The painting variant isn't covered/documented obviously, but I liked her extremely well.
