Ki-44

[Karnak]

More Japanese planes is generally good.

However, I hope it will be nothing like the KI43/Brew. I have developed a strong resentment of the KI43s that like to come along and jump in when some K4/La7/P51 force me to slow down and fight them. I now target them at a priority much higher then their actual threat just to prevent them from getting a free kill on me. It is silly, but a KI43 in the area keeps me more worried than a KI84.

Barring the Ki-27 or A5M, all of the ultra-turny Japanese fighters have been added.  The Ki-44 and J2M were both interceptors with, for Japanese standards, high wing loading.  The Japanese twin engined fighters are also not supposed to be stellar turners.

[bozon]

Barring the Ki-27 or A5M, all of the ultra-turny Japanese fighters have been added.  The Ki-44 and J2M were both interceptors with, for Japanese standards, high wing loading.  The Japanese twin engined fighters are also not supposed to be stellar turners.

Good.
Request approved by Bozon.

[Butcher]

One interesting thing about the Ki-44 is during the annual Evaluation of fighters, the Japanese Navy/Army put the Zero up against the Ki-44, the Army boosted it was a far better fighter plane. After the disaster of a show for the army, they tried everything to increase performance and such. Top Speed was only 389mph however all tests were done without armament etc. Early 44's were armed with a pair of 7.7 and 12.7mm machine guns.

Pilots were not happy with the lack of manoeuverability and high speed landings, it was troublesome for veteran pilots and like the corsair - deadly to green pilots

It was tested in fights against the 109E/2 and Curtiss P40-E in which the SHoki did outstanding.

Its interesting to note - The Ki.44 would of done great intercepting B17s and B24s over Japan, however with the arrival of the B-29 it was simply outmatched.

[HighTone]

More Japanese planes is generally good.

However, I hope it will be nothing like the KI43/Brew. I have developed a strong resentment of the KI43s that like to come along and jump in when some K4/La7/P51 force me to slow down and fight them. I now target them at a priority much higher then their actual threat just to prevent them from getting a free kill on me. It is silly, but a KI43 in the area keeps me more worried than a KI84.

Its fun flying an Oscar in a 8 vs 1. Having ponies, LA's and K4's doing 500mph passes....what a blast...more cons from more directions than you can keep track of.

I feel for all those that get trapped by a Oscar or Zeke while in a plane that won the war