The Ki-61 seems a little strange. On a whim, I decided to test it's vertical performance and stall characteristics.
From low alt, about 500 feet, I pulled into a vertical climb. Airspeed dropped off steadily as I got higher. As I was correcting for torque roll toward the top of the climb, I glanced at the speedometer to estimate about when the plane should flop over. It read 50 mph!
STILL the plane went up until it reached zero mph. What it did next was even more amazing. It started to descend backwards! As it did so, it rolled gently to the left. The nose dropped slowly and gently as this occurred. When it dropped about 15-20 degrees below the horizon, the rolling stopped easily. No stall. Not even a stall HORN. Not a spin. A tail slide with rotation mixed in, with nary a care from the Tony. I pulled her out of the dive with my jaw hanging open.
Needless to say, I started recording immediately and performed the maneuver several times. It is important to note that WEP was on, but I believe that I may have done it once when WEP ran out.
Whether it's correct or not, this is WEIRD. You'd have to see the film to get a better idea. Anyone willing to post it for me?
Whether this is an FM bug or not, I think it's best to nip questions about it in the bud before people start whining about the "helitony."
The Ki-61c Tony - the other N1K?
BTW... no, I was not hunting for quirks, I was simply curious. And what a surprise I got!
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"E's bound to be guilty, or 'e wouldn't be
'ere!Starboard gun! FIRE!
Shootings to good for 'im, kick the louse
out!Port gun! FIRE!"
- Old chant used to time saluting of guns on ships
[This message has been edited by ispar (edited 05-24-2001).]
