Semyon Alekseyevich Lavochkin (
1900 -
June 9,
1960) was a
Soviet aircraft designer, born in
Smolensk,
Russia, responsible for several important
fighter aircraft in
World War II. His fortunes faded after the war, his aircraft consistently placing second in competitions with other design bureaux, notably that of
Artem Ivanovich Mikoyan, and upon his death his design bureau was closed.
Lavochkin's most successful designs were: