| La-168 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | Soviet Union |
| Manufacturer | Lavochkin |
| First flight | 22 April 1948[1] |
| Number built | 1 |
| Variants | La-15 |
The Lavochkin La-168 was a jet fighter developed for the USSR. It was designed in response to a 1946 request for a new swept-wing jet fighter capable of transonic performance.[1]
As a single seat fighter with swept flight surfaces and an engine behind the pilot, Aircraft 168 was similar in appearance to the Mikoyan MiG-15, which was designed to the same specifications. It also shared the cannon-armament and the Rolls-Royce Nene II engine. Unlike the MiG-15, the La-168 had shoulder mounted wings and a t-tail layout. Due to Lavochkin's decision to wait with La-168 development for the Nene II engine, the MiG-15, first flown with the less powerful Nene I, was available four months earlier, giving it a crucial advantage.[1]
Aircraft 168's first flight was on April 22, 1948, with I. E. Fedorov at the controls. Trials continued until February 19, 1949, when testing of the cannons at high altitude caused the canopy to collapse, resulting in a nearly fatal crash. In the end, the Lavochkin fighter lost out to the competing MiG-15. Another 168 derivative was the La-176, the first Soviet plane to achieve supersonic flight (in a shallow dive) on December 26, 1948.[1]
A scaled down version of this aircraft powered by a Rolls-Royce Derwent, was produced as Aircraft 174, prototype of the production La-15, which although well liked and having superior performance, was more expensive and harder to mass produce than the MiG-15.[1]
Data from Lavochkins Last jets[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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