LaGG-3 35 Series

The Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 (Лавочкин-Горбунов-Гудков ЛаГГ-3) was a Soviet fighter aircraft of World War II. It was a refinement of the earlier LaGG-1 and was one of the most modern aircraft available to the Soviet Air Force at the time of Germany's invasion in 1941. Despite its wooden construction, it was both overweight and underpowered.

The LaGG-3, I-301, was designed by Semyon A. Lavochkin, Vladimir P. Gorbunov and Mikhail I. Gudkov. It was built at three different aircraft factories. No: 21 at Gorky, No: 31 at Taganrog/Tbilisi and No: 23/153 at Leningrad/Novosibirsk. It was one of the most modern aircraft available to the Soviet Air Force at the time of Germany's invasion in 1941.

Despite its wooden construction, the new fighter was proved to be severely underpowered. It was too heavy for its engine. In fact, Lavochkin, Gorbunov and Gudkov had originally designed their prototype for the powerful Klimov VK-106 engine, but it proved to be unreliable, so they were obliged to install the weaker Klimov M-105P. Without an alternative power plant, when the LaGG-3 was first committed to combat in July 1941, it was completely outclassed by the Messerschmitt Bf 109.

In combat, the main advantage of the LaGG-3 was the strength of its airframe and the fact that it did not easily catch fire, despite the extensive use of wood. However, the laminated wooden panels did tend to shatter when hit by high explosive rounds and Soviet pilots nicknamed the plane "Lakirovanny Garantirovanny Grob", or "guaranteed varnished coffin".

Overall, pilots disliked the type.