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Japan's Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale) fighter1,2,3
Allied Name: "Frank"1,3
Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate, "Frank" fighter:
Design
The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate was designed to be a replacement for the Ki-43.3
Cockpit
The Nakajima Ki-84's cockpit had a bubble canopy that provided the pilot with excellent visibility.1
The radio was behind the cockpit.1
Engine
The Ha-45-23 was much more reliable than other Japanese engines.1 Later versions were turbo-charged.1 The Ki-84's engines required constant maintenance.3
Fuel Tanks
The Ki-84 was one of the few Japanese aircraft that had self sealing fuel tanks.1
Propeller
The four blade propeller was a constant speed electrically operated variable pitch unit.1
Fuselage
The rear fuselage was made from wood in late models to conserve on raw materials.1
Tail
Some pilots complained that the elevators felt heavy at high speed and the rudder felt mushy at low speeds.1
Prototype
The first prototype to fly was at Ojima in April 1943.1,2
The prototype first flew in March 1943.3 The engines were problematic.3
Production
In April 1944, Ki-84 production started at Nakajima's Ota plant.2 To increase production Nakajima started additional production at its Otsonomiya plant.2
In the month of December 1944 there were 373 Ki-84s produced, which was the most in one month of any Japanese army fighter.1
The Ki-84s were produced by Nakajima and Mansyu.1 In 17 months they delivered 3,382 Ki-84s.1,2
Poor Workmanship
The excellent design of the Ki-84 didn't make up for the poor workmanship that went into the production of the aircraft.1,3 There were fuel and hydraulic problems throughout its life.1
- Ki-84 prototypes: 23
- Ki-84 service trials: 833
- Ki-84 pre production: 423
- Ki-84-I / Ki-84-II: 3,3823
- Ki-106: 31,3
- Produced by: Tachikawa Hikoki.3
- Ki-113: 11,3
- Ki-116: 11,3
- Total: 3,5143
Variants
- Ki-84:
- Ki-84-Ia:
- Ki-84-Ib:
- Ki-84-Ic: Was a bomber destroyer version with 30 mm cannons in the wing roots.1,2
- Ki-84-II: Had wooden rear fuselage.3
- Ki-106: All wood versions.1,3
- Ki-113: Had a stronger structure.1 Built from steel.3
- Ki-116: Had a lighter engine.1 Used the Mitsubishi Ha-32 engine (1,500 HP).3
- Ki-117: Interceptor version.1
Usage
The Nakajima Ki-84 was considered the best Japanese fighter developed during World War II.1,3 It's capabilities were on par with the P-51D and P-47N when flown by an experienced pilot.1 Unfortunately most of the experienced pilots were already wounded or killed by the time it came into service in the summer of 1944.1
China
The 22nd Sentai received pre-production aircraft in China in March 1944.2
Philippines
There were 10 Sentais equipped with the Ki-84 that were sent to the Philippines.2
| Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate3 | Nakajima Ki-84-Ia Hayate1,2,3 | Nakajima Ki-84-Ib Hayate3 | Nakajima Ki-84-Ic Hayate3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter bomber3 | Fighter1,2 Fighter bomber2 |
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| Crew | 13 | 11,2 | ||
| Engine (Type) | Nakajima Ha-45-213 | Nakajima Ha-45 piston2 Nakajima Ha-45-23 piston1 |
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| OR | Nakajima Ha-45-233 | |||
| OR | Nakajima Ha-45-253 | |||
| Cylinders | Radial 183 | Radial1,2 181 | ||
| Cooling | ||||
| Net HP | 1,900 - 2,0003 | 1,8002, 1,9001 | ||
| Propeller blades | 43 | 41 | ||
| Fuel capacity | 60 gallons1 217 liters1 |
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| Dimensions | ||||
| Span | 36' 10.5"3 11.24 m3 |
36' 10"1, 36' 10.5"2 11.24 m1,2 |
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| Length | 32' 6.5"3 9.92 m3 |
32' 6"1, 32' 6.25"2 9.92 m1,2 |
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| Height | 11' 1"3 3.38 m3 |
11' 1"1, 11' 1.25"2 3.39 m1,2 |
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| Wing area | 226 ft2 1, 226.04 ft2 2 21 m2 1,2 |
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| Weight | ||||
| Empty | 5,830 lb1, 5,864 lb2,3 2,660 kg1,2,3 |
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| Loaded | 7,965 lb3 3,613 kg3 |
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| Loaded | 8,558 lb1, 8,576 lb2,3 3,890 kg1,2,3 |
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| Performance | ||||
| Speed at sea level | 325 mph3 523 kph3 |
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| Speed @ 20,000' / 6,120 m |
391 mph1 631 kph1 |
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| Speed @ 20,080' / 6,120 m |
392 mph2,3 631 kph2,3 |
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| Climb | 3,790'/minute3 1,155 m/minute3 |
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| Climb to 16,405' / 5,000 m |
5.9 minutes2,3 | |||
| Service ceiling | 34,450'2,3, 34,500'1 10,500 m1,2,3 |
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| Range | 1,025 miles3, 1,053 miles2, 1,350 miles1 1,650 km3, 1,895 km2, 2,168 km1 |
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| Armament | 4: 20 mm3 | 2: 20 mm3 2: 30 mm3 |
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| Nose | 2: 12.7 mm MG3 2: 12.7 mm Ho-1031,2 |
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| Wings | 2: 20 mm3 2: 20 mm Ho-51,2 |
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| Bombs | 2: 551 lb3 2: 250 kg3 |
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| Under wings | 2: 551 lb bombs2 2: 250 kg bombs1,2 |
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| OR | 2: 50 gallon drop tanks1 2: 190 liter drop tanks1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of World War II, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
