Luftwaffe reports on downed Lavochkins

[Franek Grabowski]

Joerg
There is a difference between teething problems and design misconceptions, etc.

Kjetil
What is your point? Are you trying to prove that Soviet aircraft were on par with Western ones? Stalinist propagandists tried to prove that as well.
Fact is I have some pieces of Soviet hardware at home and it is not a problem for me to compare them to Western stuff. Also, there is plenty of Soviet hardware in Poland, so I am used to it in general. The difference is huge.
In regard of Lavochkins, your claim that there was no structural difference between La-5FN and La-7 is just ridiculous and proves you have no slightest idea about those aircraft. Sorry.
That said, your comment about importance of pilots' capabilities is not valid as well. While Western aircraft were automatised to a high degree (radiators, propeller/pitch settings, fuel mixture, gyro gunsight), thus allowing pilot to concentrate on combat, Soviet aircraft still required a lot of manual adjusting. Eg. young pilots often set their radiators fully open just to avoid overheating, thus substantially reducing performance. So simple. I do not even mention quality and wear problems, that were very important issues.