Lavočkin LaGG-3 (4. - 8. série)

LaGG 3 - tests of Japanese army pilots


Japan had a great chance to acquire an intact Soviet fighter aircraft in mid-1942 LaGG-3, at that time a Russian fighter pilot decided to request political asylum and flew the aircraft to Manchuria. The pilot, whose name I have not yet been able to trace and who is only referred to in the literature as "Sotohe 700", this pilot decided to land at the Manchurian airport of Chiasmus, unfortunately he did not make it to the airport because he was forced by Japanese anti-aircraft artillery to make an emergency landing. During this landing, in soft ground, the liquid cooler and of course the propeller were damaged.
The aircraft was immediately transported to the Pinfan Airfield Workshops and there it was examined for the first time by aviation experts from the Harbin base. The Japanese specialists were surprised by the quality and surface of the bakelized birch plywood, the cabin heating system, which used the heat of the exhaust pipe, was found interesting, but the air brakes on the landing gear wheels received the greatest appreciation. In contrast, the Japanese were not particularly impressed with the engine and propeller, here they easily recognised the Hispano-Suiza 12Y engine, which had some improvements to increase performance. All in all, the Japanese rated the aircraft quite well structurally, but at the same time, in addition to tests, repairs were being made to the aircraft in the workshops to allow pilots to learn its flight characteristics.
On 27.9.1942 the aircraft was again airborne and until 20.10.1942 Hiko Sho Sa (Maj.) Yamamoto sat behind its nose, he carried out speed, climb and range tests. The highest speed of 518 km/h was measured at an altitude of 4,270 m, he climbed to an altitude of 3,000 m in 3 min and 4 sec, and then climbed to an altitude of 8,000 m in 19 min 12 sec. The endurance of flight at an economic speed of 304 km/h was 1 hour 53 min. All tests were carried out with 92 octave fuel. The pilot complained about the very low manoeuvrability of the aircraft. At the end of October, the aircraft was flown to Mutanchiang base, where the tests were continued by other army pilots. In simulated dogfights, the LaGG-3 was compared to Japanese fighters Nakajima Ki 27b and Nakajima Ki 43-Ic. Pilots who flew the LaGGa praised the aircraft's acceleration and great speed in dive flight, while comparing the aircraft's agility and maneuverability to a flying brick. Complaints were also made about too much control force on the aircraft's controls.
In November, it was decided to stage a flyover to Fussa base, i.e. a flyover to the home islands. The overflight was conducted by pilot Yoshida, and a defect in the main landing gear wheel had to be repaired at Shengyang base, and a tube from a Mitsubishi Ki 51[/url] combat aircraft was used for the repair. The fateful takeoff from Fukuoka base was fatal for this aircraft, probably another defect occurred, the LaGG spun out, the resulting high forces led to a broken landing gear and thus extensive damage to the aircraft. It was eventually transported to Fussy by truck. The aircraft was found to be beyond repair, and that is the end of all reports on this machine.


Sources used:
L+K 19/1991 p. 44/778
mig3.sovietwarplanes.com
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Trojpohled LaGGu 3.
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Fotografie z testů LaGGu-3 v Mandžusku a z přeletů do Japonska.
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