The Nakajima Ki-44 Sh?ki, known as Demon Queller, Allied codename Tojo, was a single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II, first flying in August 1940 and entering service in 1942. The Japanese Army designation was Type 2 Single-Seat Fighter.
This aircraft was powered initially by a 930 kW (1,250 hp) Nakajima Ha-41 engine, and had a maximum speed of 580 km/h (363 mph). Updated to a 1,074 kW (1,440 hp) Nakajima Ha-109 engine allowed a top speed of 604 km/h (378 mph.
In contrast to its predecessor, the nimble Ki-43, the Ki-44 was designed for speed and climbing ability and was used to intercept high flying B-29 Superfortress bombers. However with its poor visibility on the ground, weak armament, and high landing speed, it was generally disliked by pilots.
Initial armament consisted of two 7.7 mm (.303 in) Type 89 machine guns and two 12.7 mm (.50 in) Ho-103 machine guns placed in each wing.
This is the leader plane (indicated by the fuselage strips) of the HQ Chutai, 77th Sentai, stationed in Burma 1943. The white crescents on the tail are stylized seagulls, the emblem of the 77th Sentai. Burma witnessed bitter fighting in terrible conditions, the allied forces predominantly from British Commonwealth countries.
The Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa was known as the Peregrine Falcon or the Allied codename Oscar. This was a single-engine, land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in World War II as designation Type 1 Fighter. Like the Mitsubishi Zero, which it resembled, the Nakajima Ha-25 radial engined Ki-43 was light, maneuverable and easy to fly. Although it entered service in 1941, it was obsolete when it was first introduced. Designed as a monoplane that would fly like a biplane, it did not permit major upgrades in power, armament or much protection for the pilot or fuel.
The Ki-43 was legendary for its combat performance however in East Asia in the early years of the war. Its lightweight construction, lack of armor and limited firepower, however proved to be deficient in comparison to later, more powerful Allied fighters. Its armament of two machine guns also proved inadequate against the more heavily armored Allied aircraft. Nevertheless, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter. Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft.
The Ky?sh? J7W1 Shinden or "Magnificent Lightning fighter was a World War II Japanese aircraft prototype that was built in a canard design and developed for the Imperial Japanese Navy as a specific response to the B-29 Super fortress raids on the Japanese homeland. The wings were attached to the tail section and stabilizers were on the front. The propeller was also in the rear, in a pusher configuration. It was expected to be a highly maneuverable interceptor, but only two were finished before the end of war. Plans were also drawn up for a jet-powered version (J7W2 Shined Kai), but this never left the drawing board.
Armament consisted of 4 30 mm Type 5 cannon and up to 120 kg (264 lb) bombs. The first prototype, the only one to have flown, is currently in storage at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.
The G4M was designed for long range and high-speed operations. Consequently, weight saving measures were incorporated such as dispensing with self sealing fuel tanks, which caused Allied fighter pilots to give it the derisive nicknames "one-shot lighter", "flying Zippo" and "flying cigar". Similarly, the Japanese Navy called the G4M the "Type One Lighter" and "Hamaki" ("Cigar"). This was due to the fact that on many occasions, it was used for low-altitude torpedo attacks where its performance advantages were negated.
Using its long range and high speed, the G4M could appear from any direction, and then be gone before many fighters could intercept them. The 20 mm cannon in the tail turret was much heavier armament than commonly installed in bombers, making dead astern attacks very dangerous. Near the end of the war, the Betty was used as a common kamikaze-carrying and launching platform, and was the usual aircraft for carrying the Ohka kamikaze rocket aircraft.
Armament included a dorsal turret featuring a 20 mm cannon; 2 20 mm Type 99 cannon; tail turret, top turret, 4 7.7 mm Type 92 machine gun; nose, waist, cockpit . The G4M2 carried bombs; 1 1,055 kg (2,326 lb) Type 91 Kai-7 (improved model 7) aerial torpedo bomb or 1 ? 800 kg (1,760 lb) bomb or 2 500 kg (1,100 lb) bombs or 1 Type 3 - 800 kg (1,760 lb) no.31 ray-detective type bomb + 12 60 kg (130 lb) bombs.
The Aichi D3A1 (or Navy Type 99 Carrier Bomber Model 11) from the carrier Zuikaku. This aircraft was a two-seat carrier or land-based dive-bomber. Referred to as "Val" by the Allied forces, it served a critical role in the attack on Pearl Harbor.
The Val was to be powered by the 529 kW (710 hp) Nakajima Hikari 1 nine-cylinder radial engine and could reach a maximum speed of 239 mph. In June 1942, an improved version of the D3A powered by a 969 kW (1,300 hp) Kinsei 54 was tested as the Model 12. Weight 5,309 pounds empty, its maximum take-off weight was 8,047 pounds. Armament consisted of three 7.7 mm machine-guns; two Type 97 .303 forward firing and one Type 92 .303 rear firing, three bombs; two 132-pound bombs and one 551-pound bomb.
Over 1,500 D3As were built but by the end of World War II, many of the remaining aircraft were relegated to kamikaze and training roles.
Nakajima B5N2 'Kate' From the 'Akagi', flown by Commander Mitsuo Fuchida, Strike Force Leader, First Wave level-bomber force.
When the Pacific War exploded in all its fury on December 7, 1941, the Nakajima B5N2 carrier torpedo bomber was the best in service with any of the world?s navies. One hundred and forty-four aircraft of this type participated in the Pearl Harbor attack as torpedo and level bombers and they crippled the American Pacific Fleet?s battleship force.
During the following twelve months, carrier-based B5N2's were to participate in sinking three American aircraft carriers, while land- and carrier-based B5N2s supported Japanese amphibious landings on all fronts. But by 1944, the Kate, as it was code-named by the Allies, was plainly obsolete, and so it finished out the war in second-line units, mainly as an anti-submarine patrol plane.
The Mitsubishi A7M Reppu was designed to succeed the famed Imperial Japanese Navy?s A6M Zero. The name translated to mean ?Violent Wind? or ?Strong Gale?. The Allies gave it the codename ?Sam.
Performance objectives were to achieve superior maneuverability, speed, climb, diving and armament over the Zero. All this criteria increased weight and required space and as a result, the wing area and overall size were significantly greater. The first prototype was underpowered and not until the powerplant was replaced was the performance parameters met. Top speed achieved during trials was 630km/hr (390mph) and the Reppu can climb to an altitude of 19,685 ft in 6 minutes.
Plans were initiated to put the Reppu into production but by then the Japanese aircraft industry was in desperate straits at this stage of the war. The Reppu therefore never saw combat.
This download containes two aircraft. They were built using version 2.80.55 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the newly developed Reality-X (RX) functions and are based on MS/CFS2 visuals.
The custom repaint represents A6M5 Model 52 painted and detailed by EasyKill is from the 261st NAG on Saipan in February 1944. The exhaust flames are by KRAZY and the additional engine damage effects by SARGE.
A6M3-32 Reisen (ZEKE 32)
This download containes two aircraft. They were built using version 2.80.55 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the newly developed Reality-X (RX) functions and are based on MS/CFS2 visuals.
The custom repaint represents an A6M3 Model 32 clipped-wing Zero Fighter. This aircraft was created, painted and detailed for us by Jindrich Barta and Shawn (boondog) Oaks. I would ask you to view their readme which is included in the download package. The exhaust flames are by KRAZY and the additional engine damage effects by SARGE.
A5M4 (CLAUDE)
The 1% Gmax conversion of Claude was built by Jerry Beckwith using version 2.80.55 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the Reality-X (RX) functions. It is based on the FSDS Visual Model by Dave Eckert, available at the Free Flight Design Shop with Prop textures by Finn Neuik. The additional engine damage effects by SARGE.
This aircraft was built using version 2.80.53 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the newly developed Reality-X (RX) functions. It is based on Anthony GRAMPS Sullenger really great F4U-4B and we would ask you to take the time to read his enclosed documentation. The Exhaust effects are by KRAZY and the additional Engine Damage effects are by SARGE.
This aircraft was built using version 2.80.53 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the newly developed Reality-X (RX) functions. It is based on Anthony GRAMPS Sullenger really great F4U-4 and we would ask you to take the time to read his enclosed documentation. The Exhaust effects are by KRAZY and the additional Engine Damage effects are by SARGE.
This aircraft was built using version 2.80.55 of the 714's Assembly Line and contains the newly developed Reality-X (RX) functions. It is based on the Ki-61 Ib Hien (Army Type 3 Fighter) created by Vladimir Kochmarsky, Steve Seybolt and Kevin Bacon. We would encourage you to view their enclosed original readme which has historical information on this plane as well as credits for those who helped to build this fine model. The Special Engine Damage Effects were created by Sarge. The winter camouflage pattern repaint of Saqson's original version represents a Ki-61 of the HQ Chutai, 244th Sentai, Chofu, Tokyo, flown in the last winter of the war 1944-45 and is by Danny SPOOK Best.
