A new developer blog from the 1C Game Studios team is focused on the cockpit of the Lavochkin La-11. This was a post war Soviet fighter and the last of the piston-engine fighters to enter into service. Let’s have a look at what they are saying.

Work in progress cockpit

It almost goes without saying that we’re looking at a not quite finished 3D render of the La-11 cockpit for IL-2 Korea. The new dev blog is focused on the instrumentation of the cockpit and there are some interesting notes here.

One of the key takeaways is that the La-11, developed post-war, comes with quite a few extra features that weren’t common during WWII era La-5 and La-7 fighters. The ASP-1 gyro sight, AGK-47B artificial horizon, radio altimeter and blind landing system, gasoline based wing deicer, and ammunition counters for the guns are all luxury appointments by comparison to the La-7.

There’s also a mention of the pneumatic reloading levers for the three NS-23 cannons. Each cannon had 75 rounds of 23mm ammunition, heavy firepower, but very short lived.

Flying the La-11 in IL-2 Korea would surely be an interesting experience. The La-11 is similar to the La-7 in performance with slight improvements to speed and firepower while gaining weight and reducing climb speed. The La-11 saw combat versus F-51s and F-86s and was often used to intercept bombers and recon aircraft though it struggled greatly in the B-29 interception role with poor high altitude performance. Kind of an awkward fit for the roles that it was asked to do. We’ll have to see how that might play out in the sim.

Read the latest blog here.