72274 LA-174 TK

The Lavochkin La-174TK was a Soviet mid-wing prototype fighter from the post-war period. The prototype's flight took place in 1948, but the machine never entered mass production. The drive was provided by a single turbojet engine with a Rolls-Royce Derwent IV centrifugal compressor (Klimov RD-500). The deck armament was to consist of three 23mm NS-23 cannons. The Lavochkin La-174TK was designed as the Soviet Air Force's new entry-level fighter and competed with the Yak-23. The Lavochkin design bureau decided to base the design of the new machine on the prototypes of the La-152 and - especially - the La-154 fighters. However, in its design, a completely new turbojet engine was used and very thin wings were used, while continuing the redan layout (engine in the nose of the fuselage with the outlet nozzle below it) of the entire structure. Despite the fact that the La-174 TK had a good thrust-to-weight ratio and a high maximum speed, it did not enter serial production, because it was beaten by the Yak-23, and especially by the MiG 15.