Nakajima Ki-43

Nakajima Ki-43
Type:	Fighter plane
Design country:	Japan
Manufacturer:	Nakajima Hikōki
First flight:	Early 1939
Number of pieces:	> 5900

The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa ( Japanese 一式戦闘機「隼」 , Ichi-shiki sentōki "Hayabusa" , German "Fighter Type 1 'Peregrine Falcon") was a cantilever all - metal low- wing aircraft with an air-cooled radial engine that was used as a fighter during World War II and retractable landing gear. It was developed by Hideo Itokawa as the successor to the Nakajima Ki-27 Setsu, the standard fighter of the Japanese Army Air Force . The model was the most produced aircraft of the Japanese Army Air Force. The first flight took place in early 1939, series production began in early 1941. The Allied code name was Oscar.

development

The specifications for developing the Ki-43 were:

Maneuverability equivalent to the Ki-27
Top speed: 500 km / h
Climb from 0-5000 m in 5 minutes
Range: 800 km
Armament: two 7.7 mm machine guns

Nakajima Hikōki was able to meet these specifications with difficulty. The required maneuverability could only be achieved through the development of special butterfly flaps ( landing flaps that protrude from the cross-section of the surface to the rear). The butterfly flaps were later used on other Nakajima aircraft.

After Japan's entry into World War II, the Japanese Army Air Force, whose pilots had previously gained combat experience over China (see Manchukuo ) and Mongolia, was initially able to use the Ki-43 with success. The irregular American Volunteer Group ( Flying Tigers ) fighting for the Republic of China , however, successfully played off the better flight performance of their Curtiss P-40 against the superior maneuverability of the Ki-43.

Because of its similarity to the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Ki-43 was not initially recognized by the Allies as a separate aircraft type. Both the Royal Air Force pilots and the USAAF often reported the Ki-43 as a Zero - a Japanese fighter who had become known to western pilots with the attack on Pearl Harbor .

Model of a Thai Ki-43

Despite upgrading with more powerful engines, heavy machine guns, self-sealing tanks, and armor to protect the pilot, the Ki-43 quickly became obsolete as World War II air combat tactics focused on flight performance, while the Ki-43 was designed for maneuverability.

The successor model planned according to this development, the Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki, was not a success and could therefore not replace the Ki-43. Even when the improved Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate appeared later , the Ki-43 continued to be produced because - unlike its successor models - it did not require any high-performance engines, the production of which in Japan fell short of requirements.

Like many other Japanese fighters, the Ki-43 was used for kamikaze attacks towards the end of World War II .

Versions

Preserved Ki-43 of the Indonesian Air Force

Ki-43: Prototype with a Nakajima Ha-25 engine with 950 hp
Ki-43-Ia: Variant with two 7.7 mm type 89 machine guns; Hayabusa Fighter Type 1 of Army (Mark 1).
Ki-43-Ib: Variant with a MG Ho-103 12.7 mm and a 7.7 mm type 89 machine gun
Ki-43-Ic: Variant with two 12.7 mm Ho-103 machine guns
Ki-43-II: Prototype with a Nakajima Ha 115 engine with 1,130 hp
Ki-43-IIa

Obtained Ki-43

A Kamikaze-Nakajima Ki-43-IIIa (in the foreground: waving schoolgirls from Chiran )

Variant with the possibility of carrying 500 kg bombs
Ki-43-IIb: Variant with radio equipment
Ki-43-II-KAI: Variant with a reinforced structure
Ki-43-III: Prototype with an improved Nakajima Ha 115 II engine with 1,230 hp
Ki-43-IIIa (Mark 3a): Production model of the Ki-43-III
Ki-43-IIIb (Mark 3b): Variant with two 20 mm cannons

Technical specifications

Nakajima Ki 43-I Hayabusa

Parameter	Data Nakajima Ki-43-IIb
crew	1
length	8.92 m
span	10.85 m
height	3.27 m
Empty mass	1,910 kg
Takeoff mass	2,420 kg
drive	a double radial engine Nakajima Ha.115 with 1,150 PS (846 kW)
Top speed	512 km / h at an altitude of 6,000 m
Service ceiling	11,200 m
Range	1,600 km
Armament	two 12.7 mm machine guns, two 250 kg bombs