Originally posted by DoKGonZo
I dunno what people expected, but I'm happy with the Ki-84 ... for whatever that's worth.
Low speed handling is excellent, climb is pretty good, acceleration seems on par with the La's, guns close to as good as a Spit IX. Seems like a great base defense plane - La's and Spits won't be able to out-turn or out-accelerate it, and US or Luftwaffe fighters which get low and slow will have some problems.
I have done a lot of testing with the Ki-84 over the past two days. It has very good acceleration from stall to 200 mph. However, from 200 mph to 300 mph, it's a pig. How so?
All tests done at 200 feet, speed stable at 200 mph, max power to 300 mph.
Spitfire MkV: 45 seconds to reach 300 mph
F6F-5: 45 seconds to reach 300 mph
Ki-84-1a: 45 seconds to reach 300 mph
F4U-1D: 43 seconds to reach 300 mph
P-47D-40: 41 seconds to reach 300 mph
P-51D: 39 seconds to reach 300 mph
P-38L: 38 seconds to reach 300 mph
La-7: 30 seconds to reach 300 mph.
All but the first two will walk away from the Hayate. The P-38 and P-51 do so easily. The La-7 simply checks out. Depending on fuel loads you may see a slight difference (all carried 50% except the La-7 which had 75%).
Don't think you can accelerate from any of the above, because you can't and will likely get whacked trying. Diving away won't work either. You will break the Hayate as speed nears 475-500 mph area and the others will run you down even if it doesn't break.
My regards,
Widewing