New Ki-43

[Vinkman]

The Ki-43's ability to out turn anything else in the game gives it a niche role that should prevent it being a hangar queen. It will be a real annoyance to anyone who flies a Brewster, Hurricane or A6M.

I'm not sure. all you need to be in the turniest plane in the fight. The Ki-43 is only needed against a Brewster or Zeke. If you are fighting Spits, Ponies, lalas, and 109s, then a brewster or Zeke already out turns everything by mile. being turnier then those planes provides deminishing returns in the Their extra firepower makes them better choices. I think People will only up Ki-43 to go Brewster hunting. We''l see.

The 410 can't deal with fighters very well, no where as good as the 110 can, so peole will not often choose it for low level ground attack. But the 410 has a very specialized roll as a buff killer. So I think it will mantain it's useage because it excels at a roll most planes are very poor at.

[Slade]

Ditto Vudu15 comments.

The Ki-43, like any plane, is very capable if flown within its favorable envelope.  I have shot down everything from bombers to Spit16s in it at this point.  It does have the side effect of making you better at shooting I noticed. 

Maybe whining about a well modeled plane is like broadcasting exactly where you need to work on your ACM.

[Gixer]

But the 410 has a very specialized roll as a buff killer. So I think it will mantain it's useage because it excels at a roll most planes are very poor at.

Buff Killer? Problem is it climbs like a buff and is almost as slow as a buff, not much of a buff killer. Any fighter comes along and the 410 is quickly disposed of. There are far better and more survivable buff killers.

The only role, if one at all. Is to be part of a horde taking down a field where there is little or no opposition and plenty of friendlies to cover it.


<S>...-Gixer

[Lusche]

Buff Killer? Problem is it climbs like a buff and is almost as slow as a buff, not much of a buff killer. Any fighter comes along and the 410 is quickly disposed of. There are far better and more survivable buff killers.

Of course there are 'better' buff killers - for almost any role you will find a 'better' plane until you are left with only 5-6 different types. But still we see more planes beign used than that.

And the 410 is still a great buff hunter low to med/high altitudes. It's just a horrible "interceptor", but if you are on defensive patrols it can quickly dispatch any buffs being encountered. The MK 103 and BK 5 cannons are unrivaled in this is game for standoff buff killing. And it still sees quite an amount of usage in that role, much more than in "horde taking of fields". This is indeed the single mission type where you will mostly "the best" the arena has to offer, i.e. Lancs, N1ks, 110s.

[Perrine]

Also, I'd like to see Ki-43-III in this game.  It's the _definitive_ Hayabusa fighter that is 20 mph faster.  With increased speed Ki-43-III's ENY is reduced to 40.

I have nothing against you I'm just using your post as an example.


I don't understand why it always has to be faster better and more powerful....you have an airframe that fought through the war with good results

The Japanese (army) air force had the Navy A6M zero eqivalent..... that would be the _Ki-43_.

Just like the Navy A6M major variants that spans entire war period:

A6M2 (early war)
A6M3 (mid war)
A6M5 (late war)

... the Ki-43 should be just as covered accordingly:

Ki-43-I (early war)
- I think this variant is needed in _AvA_ scenarios because I think the mid war Mk II that will have right now will be too much against early war historical opponents (early P-39, early P-40, Hurricane, Chinese I-16's)
Ki-43-II (mid war)
- Main opponents:  mid war P-40, P-38G, spitfire V
Ki-43-III (late war)
- Main opponents:  late war P-38,  Spitfire VIII

[Torquila]

As long as there are buffs flying below 30k, the 410 will have a role.

There is nothing comparable in the game to being untouchable to a buff formation, not even the jet/rocket fighters can provide that.

<3 Ki-43

[Vinkman]

Buff Killer? Problem is it climbs like a buff and is almost as slow as a buff, not much of a buff killer. Any fighter comes along and the 410 is quickly disposed of. There are far better and more survivable buff killers.

The only role, if one at all. Is to be part of a horde taking down a field where there is little or no opposition and plenty of friendlies to cover it.


<S>...-Gixer

Lusche is correct. It's lowsy interseptor because it climbs slowly but at altidue it's ~60mph faster than B-17, Lancs, and B-24s. The best technique is to climb to altitude and then go trolling. It hold a ton of gas and can loiter at 20k for over well an hour at military power.  Killed 6 buffs last night on one ammo load on first sortie. First three lanc I killed from 1500 yrds firing 10 rounds.  Landed all of 'em.

[HighTone]

In regards to the hitting power of the Ho-103 12.7mm machine cannon, I think HTC has done a great job with it. Poorer armor penetrating capabilities, with a pretty good result on wings and fuselage.
 
 
“This combat tends to confirm intelligence reports that state that the Hayabusa's machine cannon, though having poor penetrative powers, had significant explosive effect. A Type 1 fighter that he identified as a ZEKE hit 1 st Lt. Roy Klanrud a P-40 pilot of the 35 th FS. According to Klanrud: “I knew I was badly shot up…I expected another attack which would have been fatal because my elevator and coolant was shot up by a 20mm cannon. Three bullets hit my armor plate and glanced off, clearing out the glass of the canopy on the left side.” More than one American fighter pilot hit by 12.7mm explosive rounds thought he had been hit by the larger 20mm round fired by the Japanese Navy's Zero fighter. A partial explanation for this phenomenon is suggested by findings of Britain's Ordnance Board that tested Japanese army 12.7mm ammunition. A 1944 report said: “The fuse of the H.E./I. [high explosive/incendiary] shell is probably too sensitive for optimum performance.” In tests in India the same type ammunition failed to ignite fuel in a partially filled petrol tin, it was thought because “the blast effect was such that any possibility of petrol or petrol vapour being set on fire was nullified because of this.” Another report concluded the super-sensitive fuse was likely to explode against an aircraft's wing or fuselage skin before penetrating to a fuel tank. Japanese armor piercing ammunition was found to be effective against certain types of Allied armor at least at close ranges on the order of 100 yards.”
 
 
 
http://www.j-aircraft.com/research/rdunn/248th/248th-2.htm
 
 
 
 
 

[Mitsu]

You all Ki-43 drivers are really impotence against AKAK's P-38!

[Fulcrum]

I love to see these endless threads when new planes are introduced....reminds me of a quote from Macbeth:

"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

 
I'll add yet another 'idiot's tale' to the debate:  It's a fun cartoon plane to fly....but I agree it's a minor threat as long as you don't try to turn with it and keep your speed up (just like the brewster and zeke).  It's rare brewsters or zekes get me except when I'm deep in a dogfight and they pull up on my six while I'm engaged with someone else...I expect the oscar will be pretty much the same. 

Not a complaint, BTW....tis' the way of things in this game.   I have no one to blame but myself when it happens.    

Ful

[tunnelrat]

"Just don't turn with it"...

That's all well and good until you're in a furball... that's when they are dangerous.

[Fulcrum]

"Just don't turn with it"...

That's all well and good until you're in a furball... that's when they are dangerous.

Oh I agree completely....thus my comments concerning the brewster and zeke being similar from a threat vector perspective.

[Warspawn]

Wasn't there a Ki-43-IIIb variant with 20mm's?

*edit*  n/m, according to one source just 2 prototypes built @ Tachikawa in 1945  Of course, that source also says that the -III was just a prototype as well (10 units).  Hmmm, I don't know if that is quite true.

[Wmaker]

I've had so much fun with the Ki-43!

Thank you HTC!  

It's why IJAAF ace pilot loved -III. "I never lose in it", it's true.

So far, I have to agree with him. 

[Mitsu]

I've had so much fun with the Ki-43!

Thank you HTC!  


So far, I have to agree with him. 

Me too...Thank you very much.
I only fly Ki-43 in this tour (I flew in A6M from CV few times).
There are a lot of fun!

The Ki-43-III is really welcome in next patch.