Author Topic: Looking for performance chart of A6M2 (Read 660 times)

RRAM · « **on:** July 30, 2005, 06:15:07 AM »

Hi there.

Back on time I used to have on my HD an US performance chart of the climb rate of the A6M2 (I think it was the from the captured one's) but I long lost it in a HD crash...

I'm now in need of that particular chart because I'm involved in another forum discussion about the A6M2 claimed initial climbrate od 4500feet/minute. That chart discredites it completely so...

does anyone have that particular chart, or a link to it?...been looking for it in google but can't found it.

Thanks.

Keiler · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2005, 02:16:15 PM »

This 4500 figure seems to come from the M$ combat flightsim.
Checked google, most sources claim rate of climb of the A6M2 Zeke to be around 2500 ft/min.

Chart

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2005, 05:55:41 PM »

4500 ft/min is the figure given by Warbirds Resource Group on their A6M Zero page. Of course that is INITIAL climb rate. There is no figure given for average ROC to a given altitude, nor when performance begins to fall off.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/IJARG/a6mzero.htm

butch2k · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2005, 03:20:28 AM »

justin_g · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2005, 04:09:12 AM »

A figure of 4517fpm initial climbrate is also quoted on J.Baughers website , which gives the following sources:

Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1979.
Famous Fighters of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday, 1967.
Zero Fighter, Martin Caidin, Ballantine, 1970.
War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume 3, William Green, Doubleday 1964.
The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen, Rene J. Francillon, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 1969.
Mitsubishi A6M5 to A6M8 Zero-Sen, M.C. Richards and Donald S. Smith, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 1974.

I would guess that this (suspect)climbrate figure originally came from one of Francillons books?

Keiler · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2005, 04:20:30 AM »

I would like to know the border parameters for "initial climb".
Pretty vague imo, since there are a lot aof variables involved.

RRAM · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2005, 10:34:22 AM »

THanks a lot, Butch!!!

gatt · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2005, 10:57:01 AM »

RRAM, if you want PM me.

gatt · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2005, 02:42:07 PM »

Mail on the way ....

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2005, 04:59:25 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by justin_g
A figure of 4517fpm initial climbrate is also quoted on J.Baughers website , which gives the following sources:

Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1979.
Famous Fighters of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday, 1967.
Zero Fighter, Martin Caidin, Ballantine, 1970.
War Planes of the Second World War, Fighters, Volume 3, William Green, Doubleday 1964.
The Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero-Sen, Rene J. Francillon, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 1969.
Mitsubishi A6M5 to A6M8 Zero-Sen, M.C. Richards and Donald S. Smith, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 1974.

I would guess that this (suspect)climbrate figure originally came from one of Francillons books?

Dunno about who posted the information first, but Francillon is pretty much accepted as accurate isnt he? Caidin is certainly a popular author, but I've heard it said more than once that he tended to stretch things. Whether that means in his storytelling, or in all things, I have no idea.

Here is the info I have from "The Illustrated Directory of Fighters" by Mike Spick.

Quote

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed 331 mph (533 kph) at 14,929ft (4550m); initial climb rate 3101 ft/min (15.75 m/sec), sustained climb rate 7in 27sec to 19,686 ft (6000 m); service ceiling 32,810 ft (10,000 m); range 1162 miles (1870 km).

LOADINGS:
(at normal takeoff weight): Wing 22 lb/sq ft. (107 kg/m sq.); power 5.59 lb (2.54 kg) per hp.

ENGINE
One Nakajima NK1C Sakae 12 14-cylinder twin-row radial engine rated at 950 hp at 13,780 ft (4200 m).

Ack-Ack · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2005, 05:39:52 PM »

Does anyone know if the Japanese used convergence on the Zero? Recall reading in McGuire's CiSWP training manual that he mentions the Zero didn't have convergence and all guns just fired straight forward. Have seen other mentions of this on the P-38 Assn. forums but no one has been able to find anything official other than McGuire's passing comments.

ack-ack

Wotan · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2005, 06:26:08 PM »

Quote

Caidin is certainly a popular author, but I've heard it said more than once that he tended to stretch things.

He did more then 'stretch' he made things up....

justin_g · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2005, 05:30:35 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by StarOfAfrica2
Dunno about who posted the information first, but Francillon is pretty much accepted as accurate isnt he? Caidin is certainly a popular author, but I've heard it said more than once that he tended to stretch things. Whether that means in his storytelling, or in all things, I have no idea.

Here is the info I have from "The Illustrated Directory of Fighters" by Mike Spick.

Comparing that performance data to what's listed some other websites, it seems to me that this data is originally sourced from Francillions "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War" - but only J.Baugher's site has the 4517fpm initial climbrate and the data on turn times(iirc, this turn info is listed in Francillions book?). 4517fpm = ~23m/sec, so I guess it isn't just a number pulled from thin air. I suspect it is refering to initial climb rate acheived during some particular maneuver, such as a zoom climb started at a certain speed/altitude.

StarOfAfrica2 · « **Reply #13 on:** August 02, 2005, 12:23:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Wotan
He did more then 'stretch' he made things up....

Yeah well, as my grandma always told me, "If ya cant say anything nice......" well never mind. I was being generous. Nice stories though.