Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa ("Oscar")

[Raptor05121]

There is some bad info about these planes out there on the 'Net.

[Slade]

Slade you may benefit from a bit more research.

OK.  What sites would you say have accurate information?

[Butcher]

OK.  What sites would you say have accurate information?

Its best to research it yourself, read 20 websites and see if they credit their sources anywhere, I for example have have a library of information, you can simply pm me what info you are looking for and I can give it to you.

Internet routinely does not "credit" its source - which means they probably stole it off someone elses website.

What about the Ki-43 do you need?

[Butcher]

Here's some Technical information:
Ki. 43-Ia 35 built
Ki. 43-Ib 45 built
Ki. 43-Ic 716 built (this includes all Ki-43-I series)
Ki-43-IIa 2524 built
Ki-43-IIa-Kai Tropical 300 built
Ki-43-IIb 1531 built
Ki-43-II-Kai 500 built
Ki-53-IIIa 1098 built

Ia had twin 7.7mm machine guns, Ib had a 7.7mm and 12.7mm, every other version in operational numbers had twin 12.7mm's.

Most flew with a pair of 30kg bombs, only later versions carried a pair of 250kg bombs.

None flew with 20mm cannons except the Ki-43-IIIb which only 2 were created and flew in June 1945.

Early versions used the Ha.25 engine with 950 hp, later models used Ha.115 with between 1120 and 1150 hp.

All were built by Nakajima except for the two prototypes of the Ki-43-IIb (20mm version) which was made by Mitsubishi.

Sources: Ki-43 by Richard M. Bueschel (Schiffer military history book) and Profile Publication number #46, Ki-43 Hayabusa

[Mitsu.]

Ki-43-III's Ha-115-II engine had 1230hp.

[Butcher]

blah tried to fix some errors in that, The 20mm version was a Ki.43-IIIb - my edit was a little to late.

[Slade]

[sarcasm]
If only the ki-43 was used more in WWII maybe AH would include it.  
[/sarcasm]

[AirLynx]

Ain't the Ki-43 basically a Zero without cannons?

I know they're different airframes, but the tactics for using them were the same right?

[Butcher]

Ain't the Ki-43 basically a Zero without cannons?

I know they're different airframes, but the tactics for using them were the same right?

Pretty much, Ki-43 and Zero were pure dogfighters, Ki-43 had no armor and was land based dogfighter - it served pretty much in every theater in the pacific from Burma to new guinea.

[Mitsu.]

Ki-43 is turner than A6M. 
You can fight like a WWI air battle in it with 270rds x2 12.7mm guns!
I wished it could have 500rds per gun...ahhh.

[Ack-Ack]

Interesting note about the Ki-43, it still kept on flying with various countries after the war.

ack-ack

[Mitsu.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JYo-Un6bSk&feature=related

 

*ignore Japanese speech and BGM.

Although I would like to see Ki-100-I, Ki-61-II-KAI, Ki-84-I-Otsu, and J2M3 or 5 than Ki-43...
Because it had 20mm cannons, so everyone would use it in LWA.

[nrshida]

Is there a version of that song about the Hayate, and if so, where can I get the mp3 from? 

[Butcher]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JYo-Un6bSk&feature=related

 

*ignore Japanese speech and BGM.

Although I would like to see Ki-100-I, Ki-61-II-KAI, Ki-84-I-Otsu, and J2M3 or 5 than Ki-43...
Because it had 20mm cannons, so everyone would use it in LWA.

So very true, my biggest drawback with the Ki-43 is the gun package, but I can't dismiss how many victories it had despite the lack of gun package.

[SgtPappy]

[sarcasm]
If only the ki-43 was used more in WWII maybe AH would include it.  
[/sarcasm]

Apparently, it was the most common Japanese Army Air Force fighter of WWII and had the most victories in the JAAF. It's like the TIE fighter of WWII really.