Nakajima Ki 84 TYPE 4 FIGHTER HAYATE (FRANK)

    The Nakajima Type 4 Hayate (Frank) was another in the line of very successful fighters including the Type 97 Ki27 (Nate), the Ki43 Hayabusa (Oscar and Ki44 Shoki (Tojo) that were produced by Nakajima for the Japanese Army Air Force. The Hayate, powered by a 2000hp Ha45 engine, boasted excellent speed, maneuverability, firepower and defensive armor. After approval of the prototype at the end of March 1944, the aircraft was officially declared "The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere Fighter", immediately put into heavy production and sent into all theaters of combat in the Far East, including China, the Philippines, Okinawa and the defense of the Japanese islands. It was reported that the Hayate was so successful that it was able to seize temporary air superiority over China facing mainly P-40 and P-51 opposition.
    After the war, the Hayate was brought to the United States for testing and study, where it evaluated was to be "the best Japanese fighter aircraft of the war". The Hayate was the third-most produced Japanese fighter of the war, after the Zero and the Hayabusa, with a total of approximately 3,500 aircraft produced.
    (Data)
Crew: one;
length: 11.238m;
wingspan: 9.920m;
height: 3.385m;
weight, fully-loaded: 3.890kg;
engine: Ha45-21 (rated at 2,000hp at take-off);
top speed: 624km/h (at 6,500m);
armament: 12.7mm cannon x2, 20mm cannon x2