While conflict erupted across the world in 1939, several young and upcoming Soviet aircraft designers - Vladimir Gorbunov, Mikhail Gudkov, and Semyon Lavochkin — put forward blueprints for a high-speed, monoplane fighter. Its principal characteristic lay in the use of an impregnated wood or 'delta-wood' in the areas and components expected to experience the highest g-loadings. This was a wood infused with plastic-like synthetic resin, which was then cured under pressure in a specially designed kiln. It resulted in a significantly stronger material that didn't catch fire, but simply charred instead.
展开▼
