## LH-1 «Lightning 1» — The White Flash of Austria

LORE:

The History of a Legend

Type: Light Front-line InterceptorDeveloper: OKB Light HrumanService Entry: × 1955 ×Legendary Pilot: Otto "The Reaper" Richter

Birth of a Symbol: The Clear Sky Doctrine
In 1955, Austria’s skies demanded a new guardian. OKB Light Hruman, an Austrian design bureau with strong ties to German engineering, answered the call by creating the LH-1 "Lightning 1" – a fighter that embodied the philosophy: "An aircraft should be nothing more than a shell for the engine and the guns!"• Design: Its snow-white fuselage, classic circular nose intake, and canopy with sky-blue glazing made it an instantly recognizable icon of Austrian aviation.• Weight: With a phenomenal takeoff weight of only 7000 kg (as seen on the instruments), the LH-1 possessed unprecedented thrust-to-weight ratios and maneuverability for its time!
The Cockpit: Workspace of "The Reaper"
The LH-1's cockpit was a rugged yet functional heart of the machine. It was here that Otto Richter, the future "Reaper", became one with his aircraft:• Ergonomics: The Circuit Breaker (CB) panels were divided into Right and Left groups, ensuring combat redundancy.• Startup Ritual: Starting the VK-1 engine required precision. The pilot manually activated the CBs and the fuel pump, then, after flipping the safety cover, held the starter button for at least 3 seconds. Richter often said: "Hearing the turbine come to life is the best music there is."
Firepower: The Scythe That Scorched the Sky Despite its small size, the LH-1 carried an arsenal capable of stopping any intruder:
• N-37 Cannon (37mm): Located in the lower fuselage, this monstrous gun could tear a bomber apart with a single shell! The recoil was so immense that the aircraft would literally jerk and slow down in mid-air
• NR-23 **Cannon (23mm): High-rate-of-fire weapon for intense dogfights against enemy fighters.
• Rockets APM-90