A6M series fuel delivery systems

[RedTeck]

From 2 seperate reports(1&2) I've come across detailing captured A6M aircraft, both make reference to it having a float type carburetor that caused engine cut-out when negative "G's" were experienced. Been poking around to find out on what models if any had this corrected. Anyone have some info they can point me to?


1. Akutan A6M Model 21 serial # 4593
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/japan/intelsum85-dec42.pdf
Page 3 "Conclusions" Bullet # 2

2. Kunming A6M "Mark I" serial # 3372
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/japan/p5016.pdf
Bottom of first page in engine section

[Karnak]

As I understand it, this was a mistake we made when fixing the A6M we captured in the Aleutians.

[RedTeck]

Both the one found in the Aleutians and the one in China indicated the same problem. Was it just an early type or early #'d  aircraft in that series?

[Karnak]

I don't recall as it was a source posted here by somebody else.  The A6M series is not my specialty.  I know in the WarBirds game, also by HiTech and Pyro originally, the A6M2 did cut out under negative Gs and the A6M5 did not.  They must have had a reason to change that.

[RedTeck]

found this
http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/japan/ATIG-Report-24.pdf

Page 3 states "Float type carburetion was used entirely at the beginning of the war but the trend gradually increased toward fuel injection, and at the end of the war it was expected to use fuel injection exclusively."

So we know they started with float-carbs and ended with fuel injections. Now to just find when the changeover occurred.

[Hajo]

Something else I did not know but just found out.

The zero could charge C02 into the fuel tank to limit explosions or fires.

Sometimes it worked...sometimes it didn't.

[Ack-Ack]

I believe the A6M2 (all types) had the float-type carburetor, which led to the tactic of US pilots using a vertical power dive using negative G acceleration to build seperation while the Zero's engine stalled.

I'm pretty sure the A6M3 was built with out the float-type carburetor and had fuel injection instead.


ack-ack

[SectorNine50]

I believe the A6M2 (all types) had the float-type carburetor, which led to the tactic of US pilots using a vertical power dive using negative G acceleration to build seperation while the Zero's engine stalled.

I'm pretty sure the A6M3 was built with out the float-type carburetor and had fuel injection instead.


ack-ack

Excuse my ignorance, but "verticle power dive using negative G acceleration" confused me and I couldn't picture what this maneuver is exactly, is it just a nose down dive as opposed to rolling over and diving?

[Karnak]

Excuse my ignorance, but "verticle power dive using negative G acceleration" confused me and I couldn't picture what this maneuver is exactly, is it just a nose down dive as opposed to rolling over and diving?

Yes.

[Angus]

Bunting is the name. Gets the crap from the floor all around you , and the dust from your boots into your nose