In the manufacture of aircraft used different materials. Among the most common are metals, fabrics and wood. Aircraft designer Semyon Lavochkin designed a fighter made of wood.
Starting conditions
Twice Hero of Socialist Labor Semyon Alekseevich Lavochkin was born on September 11, 1900 in Smolensk. My father worked as a teacher. Mother kept housekeeping. In 1917, the young man graduated from high school with a gold medal. A year later, he was drafted into the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army. He took part in hostilities on the Eastern Front. After the end of the Civil War, Semyon came to Moscow and entered the Higher Technical School.
After graduation, a certified aeromechanic engineer was sent to work in the design bureau of aircraft designer Paul Richard. An engineer from France came to Soviet Russia to help the Communists build a new society. The design bureau was engaged in the design of seaplanes. Lavochkin led the sector in which structural strength calculations were performed. Two years later, an experienced designer was transferred to the General Directorate of the Aviation Industry.
Chief Designer
As part of the specialization and separation of functions, Lavochkin led the direction in the design and manufacture of fighters. At that time, it was important not only to create a new car, but also to develop production technology. In the late 30s, together with designers Gurevich and Gorbunov, he created the LaGG-1 fighter. As the main structural material, special plywood was used. In the first years of the war, Rus-plywood rendered worthy resistance to fascist asses.
The next project brought outstanding results. In the fall of 1942, LA-5 fighters appeared in the sky above Stalingrad. It was on this machine that Hero of the Soviet Union Ivan Kozhedub fought three times, who personally shot down sixty-two enemy aircraft. Until the end of the war, modified vehicles of this series LA-7 and LA-5FN with improved aerodynamic and combat characteristics were delivered to the front.
