Closely related to the La-126, the La-130 – first flown on 16 June 1946 – encluded a number of refinements, both aerodynamic and structural, and featured a revised fuel system of increased capacity and a laminar flow symmetrical wing section. It retained the ASh-82FN radial of the preceding fighters, but provision was made for four 23mm NS-23 cannon.
The similarity to the famous Lavochkin La-7 was only superficial; the new fighter was all-metal and had laminar flow wings.
The aircraft’s strength decreased due to the removal of wood from the airframe largely allowing for the fuel and armament capacity of four guns. In combat it showed that the La-130 was equal to the La-7 but was inferior to the Yakovlev Yak-3 in horizontal and vertical maneuvers.
Series production was authorised in November 1946 as the La-9 (Russian: Лавочкин Ла-9), deliveries to the VVS commencing February 1947 from GAZ 21 at Gor’kiy.
A tandem two-seat training version, the La-9UTI, was flown in July 1947, and series production continued for three years, 1,630 single-seaters and 265 two-seaters being built.
One example, designated La-138, was fitted with two PVRD-430 ramjets of 300kg underwing, factory testing performed during March and April 1947, and increases in level speed of 107 to 112km/h were recorded in level flight. A small batch of aircraft was completed with underwing provision for RD-13 pulsating athodyds, or pulse-jets, as La-9RDs. These boosters were found to have a bad effects on the handling characteristics.
In 1950 China imported 129 La-9 aircraft. The last 5 La-9 fighters were retired in 1959. The Romanian Air Force imported 10 in 1950 (5 La-9 and 5 La-9 UTI), and the type was also operated by North Korea.
La-9
Length; 30 ft 2.25 in
Span: 34 ft 9.75 in
Speed SL: 428 mph
Armament: 4 x 20 mm cannon
La-9
Engine: Shvetsov Ash-82FNV, 1825 hp (1,380 kW)
Wingspan: 9.8 m (32 ft).
Wing area: 17.7 sq.m / 190.52 sq ft
Length: 8.46 m
Height: 2.54 m
MAUW: 3,675 kg / 8104 lb
Empty weight: 2660 kg / 5864 lb
Loaded weight: 3,265 kg
Fuel cap: 825 lt.
Max. speed: 690 km/h / 429 mph
ROC: 3200 fpm.
Ceiling: 10800 m / 35450 ft
Cruise: 278 kt (515 kph).
Range: 990 km (615 mi)
Armament: 2 20 mm ShVAK cannons or 3 20 mm Berezin cannons
Bombload: 200 kg
Crew: 1
La-9RD
Engines: 1 x Shvetsov Ash-82 / 2 x RD-13 pulsejet
Max. speed: 474 mph
La-9UTI
Armament: 1 x 12.7 mm UBS machine gun
Seats: 2
La-9UTI
Armament: 1 x 23 mm NS-23 cannon
Seats: 2
La-132
Engine: Shvetsov ASH-82M
La-9M (LA-134)
long-range combat prototype
La-138
An La-9 fitted with two PVRD-450 auxiliary ramjet engines under the wings
All Aero 