Lavochkin La-15

Please be sure to use the other print profile for the body! The Lavochkin La-15 was a Soviet jet fighter developed in the late 1940s, emerging during the early Cold War era as part of the USSR's transition to jet-powered aircraft. First flown in 1948, it featured a swept-wing design and was powered by a Klimov RD-500 turbojet engine, a copy of the British Rolls-Royce Derwent V. Nicknamed "Fantail" by NATO, the La-15 was highly maneuverable and capable of high speeds, comparable to its contemporaries like the MiG-15. However, its small size and complex production requirements made it less practical than the MiG-15, leading to limited production. Only about 235 units were built before it was retired in favor of the MiG-15, which proved simpler and more cost-effective. The La-15 remains a notable example of post-World War II Soviet aviation innovation.