The Lavochkin La-15 (NATO reporting name 'Fantail') was an early Soviet jet fighter and a contemporary of the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15.

Development

The La-15 was the outcome of a series of development aircraft that began with the Lavochkin La-168 in 1948 and continued via the La-172 and La-174 later that same year. Even while the second La-174 prototype (the La-174D) was undergoing flight trials in August, the type was ordered into production and the designation La-15 was issued.

The La-15 had a barrel-like fuselage, swept wings, and stabilisers mounted high on the fin, almost like a T-tail. In basic configuration, it resembled the more famous MiG-15, except for a slightly sleeker appearance and high-mounted wings. It was popular with pilots because of its easy handling and dependability, and its pressurized cockpit was an advantage at high altitude. Nevertheless, official enthusiasm for the La-15 was mild, largely because it was a complex design that required complicated (and expensive) production tooling. The MiG-15 was somewhat less capable, but easier to mass-produce.

Some 500 La-15s were built, and served with the Soviet Air Force until 1954. A two-seat trainer version was also developed as the La-180 and was to be put into production as the La-15UTI, but as official interest in the La-15 waned, the trainer was cancelled before mass production began.

Specifications (La-15)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one, pilot
• Length: 9.56 m (31 ft 4 in)
• Wingspan: 8.83 m (29 ft 0 in)
• Height: m ( ft in)
• Wing area: 16.2 m² (174 ft²)
• Empty: 2,575 kg (5,677 lb)
• Loaded: 3,850 kg (8,490 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Tumansky RD-500 , 15.6 kN (3,510 lbf) thrust

Performance

• Maximum speed: 1,026 km/h (638 mph)
• Range: 1,170 km (730 mi)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 m (42,650 ft)
• Rate of climb: 1,612 m/min (5,289 ft/min)
• Wing loading: 238 kg/m² (48.7 lb/ft²)
• Thrust-to-weight ratio: 1 kgf:2.4 kg (4.1 N/kg)

Armament

• 2x 23 mm Nudelman-Suranov NS-23 cannon

Related content

Related development: La-168 - La-172 - La-174 - La-176

Comparable aircraft: MiG-15 - F-86 Sabre

Designation sequence: La-7 - La-9 - La-11 - La-15 - La-17