Should Zeros be able to do this?

[Vudu15]

I was in the TA when talking to Cuervo about zekes doing 490 mph so I did a little test 18K with 50% fuel and I got to 550 mph with both the A6m5 and 3 should this be possible the 2 only made it to 400 something then came apart.
Any and all help would be great.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6yn7BqcQ0w&feature=youtu.be

[morfiend]

 Vudu,

  It looked like you used trim to pull out of the dive!  I didn't see the control column move much so that's why you didn't loose any control surfaces. If you would have had the clipboard open to E6B we could have seen the TAS and IAS which is better than using the airspeed indicator.

  I'm not sure of the VnE of the zero's,but had you have used the controls to pull up I'm betting you would have lost a control surface or 2!


   

[Chalenge]

Not sure about the 5, but the 3 is 700kph (VnE), or about 435mph. I thought the 5 was only about 20kph faster, but cannot find a reference for it.

[Tracerfi]

i have had a zero catch my jug at 450 and he was 600 on my tail the entire time

[Vudu15]

Vudu,

  It looked like you used trim to pull out of the dive!  I didn't see the control column move much so that's why you didn't loose any control surfaces. If you would have had the clipboard open to E6B we could have seen the TAS and IAS which is better than using the airspeed indicator.

  I'm not sure of the VnE of the zero's,but had you have used the controls to pull up I'm betting you would have lost a control surface or 2!


   

ty sir I can redo the test if you like I figured it would be enough Ive never done anything like this before but thanks for the reply. I had combat trim on but used no control save where I announced I was.

[Karnak]

I have read Japanese pilots who claimed the A6M2 and A6M3 could be safely dived above the limit.  The A6M5 added 600lbs of aluminum to the skin to make higher speed dives possible.

[Chalenge]

I have read Japanese pilots who claimed the A6M2 and A6M3 could be safely dived above the limit.  The A6M5 added 600lbs of aluminum to the skin to make higher speed dives possible.

Yes and I have read accounts where pilots exceeded the sound barrier, too.