File updated on June25, 2004
This image represents a LaGG-3 during the winter of 1941/42.
The most noticeable charachteristic of this image is the silverish
look of the side and upper surface of the aircraft, while such reflexes
are absent on the lower surfaces.
It was impossible to decide if this aircraft was really painted silver
on its upper and side surfaces, or if it's some effect of the low sun.
For example, one can think that the dark look of upper surfaces is
due to the low position of the sun, while the absence of such dark look
on the lower fuselage is due to the sun reflexion on the snowy ground.
Some discussion can be found here,
but it doesn't arrive to a conclusion.
The aircraft was probably of 3rd series, and its characteristics are:
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sharp prop spinner;
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tubular exhaust stacks;
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1 ShVAK 20 mm firing through the propeller shaft;
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1 12,7 UB machine gun guns on the left side of the engine cowling, and
relative holes on the left side of the cowling;
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2 7,62 mm ShKAS machine guns on the engine cowling;
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engine cowling with fast locks on lower panel only;
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pointed (?) side plates behind the exhaust stacks;
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reptangular supercharger intakes;
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long and moved forward radio mast;
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straight rudder with two balance masses;
-
water cooler outlet on the fuselage with small step;
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fixed tail wheel;
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no slats, pitot on the right leading edge.
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This profile shows the aircraft how it seems to me from this photo:
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silver side and upper surfaces;
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white undersurfaces and tail;
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light blue undersurfaces of tail;
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red stars, trim, number 46;
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guards emblem on its side;
-
black prop blades.
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This is a possible alternative interpretation:
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overall white surfaces;
-
light blue undersurfaces of tail;
-
red stars, trim, number 46;
-
guards emblem on its side;
-
black prop blades.
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