And now we get into the 'higher end' Soviet fighters.
Lavochkin eventually began to design aircraft on his own and came up with the supremo La-5, La-5FN and La-7 series. To my eyes, these aircraft look like they mean business rather than sporting aircraft with guns and camouflage tacked on. Looking at this aircraft next to the LaGG, it becomes apparent that the airframes are very similar but the La-5 family had the more powerful Shvetsov radial engine. Combat debut of the La-5 and La-5FN were Kursk and Stalingrad battles respectively. These were the first Soviet aircraft to comprehensively match their German opposition and underwent continuous subsequent modification to ensure competitiveness. This aircraft family also proved versatile serving in the interceptor, fighter/bomber and ground-attack roles until the end of the war. Maximum speed of the La-5FN was 403 mph (648 kph) at 21,000 feet (6,400 metres) and armament consisted of 2x20mm ShVAK cannon or 2x23mm NS cannon in the upper cowling. It was also able to carry up to 6,621 lbs (300 kg) of various bombs or rockets on underwing hard points. These aircraft were the final mount of the highest scoring Allied ace of the war, Ivan Kozhedub credited with 62 kills. The aircraft in the pic below is an La-7 flown by Kozhedub which differed little externally from the La-5 and La-5FN. Sorry the pic is so small.
La-7 Kozhedub.jpg
More coming...