Originally posted by Charon
There have been a lot of aircraft laundry lists posted lately -- a veritable index listing from some Aircraft encyclopedia. While I hope that all the significant and insignificant WW2 planes are added someday, from a practical standpoint what are the critical holes in the planeset? What are the FIVE most pressing NEWadditions. Here’s the criteria:
1. The plane had to have seen at least somewhat significant service in WW2 -- No G55 perk planes.
2. It has to be basically competitive in the MA (on the order of a MC 205 or FW-190A8) -- no hanger queens.
3. It has to fill a reasonable role in the CT (most likely a late-war CT setup, given the preceding criteria).
4. You have to explain your choices.
Ki-44 Shoki (translates to "Demon"). The only Japanese aircraft built specifically as an interceptor, it married high speed and climb at the sacrifice of maneuverability. It was the only Japanese aircraft capable of operating at the altitudes where the American heavy bombers flew. Prototype first flew in 1940 and was a disappointment, but revisions and modifications to the design yielded a fighter capable of reaching 16,000 feet in just over 4 minutes. The Ki-44-IIb carried four 12.7mm machine guns (equivalent to four .50cals, more or less) and had a max speed of 376 mph at 17,000 feet. The Ki-44-III carried four 20mm cannons and had a bigger, more powerful motor. Just over 1,100 Shoki's were produced and served in China, Burma, India theatre, in Sumatra, and later in defense of the home islands against the B-29 raids.
The Ki-44 production ceased when the Ki-84 entered service.
Mitsubishi G4M Betty bomber. Mainstay of the Japanese Army bomber fleet. Max bomb load was 1,000kg. Armament was four 20mm cannons and two 7.7mm MGs. Just say no to Ju-88 substitutions!
P51B with a Malcolm hood. I'm tired of looking around canopy framing!
Dewoitine D.520. You'll never have a true Fall of France scenario with a French fighter such as the Dewoitine D520.
