A Soviet Arrow

[Spinners 15,986]

Lavochkin La-13 'Flute' - Soviet Air Force, 1949

 

During the Summer of 1945, and by Stalin's request, captured examples of the Dornier Do-335 Pfiel were flown back to the Central Institute of Aerodynamics (TsAGI) at the new Zhukovsky facility where it was decided to copy the basic design and allow the Lavochkin OKB to manufacture it for the Soviet Air Force. The Daimler-Benz DB 603A engines were replaced by two of the promising new Shvetsov ASh-94FN engines each rated at 1,850 hp and armament was changed to three of the outstanding 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannons. Prototype testing was aided by using original Do-335 airframes with the new Shvetsov engines and the first all-new La-13's began to roll off the Lavochkin production line during the Spring of 1947 and entering service soon after. La-13's gained instant notoriety in August 1948 when they shot down four C-54 Skymasters which had strayed just outside the southern air corridor on their return to Rhein-Main Air Base.

 

 

 

 

 

[Sheriff001 397]

I was not expecting this Arrow