Given what went into the design, it's diving ability was probably simular to the A6M5 with the thicker wing design. It has fabric control surfaces, which usually lose effectiveness before stressed skin surfaces would.
Oh and another question. The N1K2's acceleration within the maximum speed numbers is all fine and well, but why does it accelerate so fast in a dive?
To a point it should accelerate very fast with the nose down, where the excess power is being put to use. But why does such a light airframe continue to accelerate so well past the point where excess power is no longer accelerating, and the airframe is relying on gravitational acceleration(and drag generation)?
It does not have an airfoil that well suited to high speed flight, unlike say, a Spit which is understandable.
[This message has been edited by Jigster (edited 05-13-2001).]
