Ki-61

[BaldEagl]

I took a Ki-61 for a spin last night.  I hadn't flown it in a while.

When I first flew it I sort of liked it but then I ran into a tough stretch in it and backed away.  Last night I think I really started to understand it.  Flown within it's envelope it's really a sweet plane.  Highly manouverable, good speed, good guns.

Also, I had always sort of put the Ki-61 and the C.205 in the same boat so I took a 205 up afterward for comparison.  Gotta say the Ki-61 is the better of the two by a wide margin IMO.  Maybe it just fits my style better.

[71313]

 

[Hazzer]

We Brits flew the F4u off carriers out of the box.

[Krusty]

C205 has better weaponry, better ammo load, better climb rate, better top speed, better acceleration and raw horsepower, and still turns pretty damn nice.

Even in turn radius, they aren't too far off. The Ki61 turns almost like a hurr/spit, though, so it's not a fair comparison. The C.205 turns as well as most of the planeset (not counting the spits/hurrs/top 1% planes.

The only real weakness, IMO, is the strength of the 20mm guns on the 205, and the much shorter range.

[Hazzer]

oops wrong thread!

[Hazzer]

Has a great dive capability,unlike any other Japanese aircraft in every way.

[Krusty]

N1k2 dives just fine, as does the D3A and B5N

[Masherbrum]

The Tony is a crappy plane.   

 

[BaldEagl]

C205 has better weaponry, better ammo load, better climb rate, better top speed, better acceleration and raw horsepower, and still turns pretty damn nice.

Even in turn radius, they aren't too far off. The Ki61 turns almost like a hurr/spit, though, so it's not a fair comparison. The C.205 turns as well as most of the planeset (not counting the spits/hurrs/top 1% planes.

The only real weakness, IMO, is the strength of the 20mm guns on the 205, and the much shorter range.

That may all be true but the Ki just seems better to me.  Much smoother to fly.

Unlike most of the plane-set, I rarely felt the urge to engage WEP.

It's turn response is fast and smooth particularily around 250 mph (seems to be a sweet spot).  I was surprised that it seems to do a wing-over reverse even better than the F6F and I was really surpised in it's agility while fighting an FM2.

I better shut up now.  I HATE running into these things in the arena.

[Fruda]

Ah, so another pilot likes the Hien as well, eh?

It's a very fun aircraft to fly, and it's so deceptively deadly in the right hands. Plus, it's got ridiculous range, and more than enough ammo for several kills per sortie.

[Pannono]

C205 has better weaponry

61 has cowl 20mms, the 205 does not

[Jester]

The Tony is a crappy plane.   

I always thought the TONY was the best Japanese plane of the pack till the FRANK came along.

I first started sim-flying in the ME-109 so I guess that is why I liked it so well when I joined a Japanese based squad - it's flying characteristics are very similar. I never could do anything with the ZEKE's and the GEORGE always handled like a pregnant cow on ice to me.

 

[Becinhu]

The 61 seems to be a better handling plane over the 205 to me.  While the cannons on the 205 are lethal I can't get past the 109ish stall that seems to occur everytime I bank the 205 in either directon. I contrast the 61, while sounding like a lawnmower, is much smoother in the controls. Also, the 61 seems to be much better in the "run down the runstang" department.

[Jester]

I contrast the 61, while sounding like a lawnmower,

Go out and find one of the "Sound Packages" that are available and change your "Engine Sounds."

I did this with my P-38 - thought the original engines sounded too much like an Electic hedge trimmer so I found one that has the high pitched whine of the twin Allison's and now it will about make the fillings in your teeth vibrate while flying!   

 

[valdals]

my primary ride is the a6m5 zero. the niki is ok gun wise but sucks turning. the ki61 is better but you have to have alt and speed to get the most out of the plane. the gun set up is excellant when somone tries to HO you. you win most of the time. i compare this plane to be an equal to the p51b. its not as fast but it flies similar.