Japanese Zero

[1K3]

Originally posted by Red Tail 444
hmmm...

Interesting that how people think the plane is made of crap, while every plane designed post '41 was designed to outperform the zero. the zeke was the standard by which all US aircraft in the PTO were judged, and thankfully the allied went to work to do just that.

In AH, it takes patience to both get kills, and to get home in a zeke. I'm a birdcage hog driver primarily, and I get my kicks getting in an early zeke. I love that ride, actually, and very, very few players can beat a highly skilled zeke pilot in a knife fight.

Mitsu Zeros back then are like today's new Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX and Nakajima "Hayabusa" and "Hayate" are like the modern day Subaru WRXs and Nissan Skyline GTRs respectively (in terms of handling:D )

[Knegel]

Originally posted by Red Tail 444
hmmm...

Interesting that how people think the plane is made of crap, while every plane designed post '41 was designed to outperform the zero. the zeke was the standard by which all US aircraft in the PTO were judged, and thankfully the allied went to work to do just that.

In AH, it takes patience to both get kills, and to get home in a zeke. I'm a birdcage hog driver primarily, and I get my kicks getting in an early zeke. I love that ride, actually, and very, very few players can beat a highly skilled zeke pilot in a knife fight.

Hi,

if you look to the war results even in 1942/43, where the F4F was the main fighter on the US CV´s and if you compare the performence of the P38, P47, SpitIXc(or VIII) or other 1943 planes with the A6M5, i only can get the impression that the Zero was a poor plane at this time.
In 1941/42 it was up to date, but it was the main fighter(together with the Ki-43-II) until late 1944, thats like keeping the SpitII and 109E7 that long.
Already vs the SpitV the A6M5 dont had much to offer, as long as the Spit pilot did use B&Z or hit and run tactics. The weakness of the construction(resulting in bad highspeed handling and easy damages by MG fire) was a much to high price for a not needed turn performence at slowspeed. Much to late the Japanese HQ saw that extreme turnfighting, specialy in very weak planes, is the biggest disadvantage someone can think off.
Even the high praised Ki-61 wasnt much more than a 109F2, and that in 1943/44/45.
No wonder they did decide to make kamikaze attacks, better to die with the possibility to cause something, than to fly around as a sitting duck(to surrender would have been the best sulution in such a hopeless situation anyway, but thats not easy possible with so big ideological discrepancys.).

Greetings,

Knegel

[morfiend]

BK has a point,I too have seen some guncam footage.I think tho the loss of control is Bcuz the pilot is about to bail and has let control go,or pilot is out cold or dead.Since this is a sim only blackouts can be reproduced,so the sim pilot can fly until he bails or explodes.Unfortunately the guncams only show 1 point of view and not whats happening inside the cockpit.

[Red Tail 444]

Originally posted by Knegel
Hi,

if you look to the war results even in 1942/43, where the F4F was the main fighter on the US CV�s and if you compare the performence of the P38, P47, SpitIXc(or VIII) or other 1943 planes with the A6M5, i only can get the impression that the Zero was a poor plane at this time.
In 1941/42 it was up to date, but it was the main fighter(together with the Ki-43-II) until late 1944, thats like keeping the SpitII and 109E7 that long.
Already vs the SpitV the A6M5 dont had much to offer, as long as the Spit pilot did use B&Z or hit and run tactics. The weakness of the construction(resulting in bad highspeed handling and easy damages by MG fire) was a much to high price for a not needed turn performence at slowspeed. Much to late the Japanese HQ saw that extreme turnfighting, specialy in very weak planes, is the biggest disadvantage someone can think off.
Even the high praised Ki-61 wasnt much more than a 109F2, and that in 1943/44/45.
No wonder they did decide to make kamikaze attacks, better to die with the possibility to cause something, than to fly around as a sitting duck(to surrender would have been the best sulution in such a hopeless situation anyway, but thats not easy possible with so big ideological discrepancys.).

Greetings,

Knegel

I believe also that the evolution of wingman tactics and a better understanding of E states gives the allies an advantage. Too few films of Japanese gun cam footage survived, therefore, we see a largely unbalanced historical account of Japanese ACM.

The zeke was a top aircraft prior to 1942, and I agree that there were serious issues in the vertical plane, but I still believe that if the zeke pilot can survive long enough to get in the saddle with any aircraft, then he becomes a very difficult plane to shake. Snapshot not withstanding, once he gets within cannon range, it's usually a done deal.

Ever read Roy Fuchida's book? Interesting read