The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (疾風, "Gale") was a single-seat fighter used by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II. The Allied codename was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was Type 4 Fighter (四式戦闘機). Robust, capable, with excellent performance and maneuverability and powerful armament, the Ki-84 was considered to be the finest Japanese fighter to see large scale operations during the Second World War. Though hampered by poor production qu...
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The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (疾風, "Gale") was a single-seat fighter used by the Japanese Imperial Army in World War II. The Allied codename was "Frank"; the Japanese Army designation was Type 4 Fighter (四式戦闘機). Robust, capable, with excellent performance and maneuverability and powerful armament, the Ki-84 was considered to be the finest Japanese fighter to see large scale operations during the Second World War. Though hampered by poor production quality in later models, a high-maintenance engine, and lack of experienced pilots above all else, the Hayates that arrived in the Philippines proved to be very difficult opponents for American pilots. They were able to out-climb both the P-51D and the P-47N and to engage the B-29 at high altitude, though they performed much better at low or medium altitude. The "Hayate" would have posed considerable problems for the USAF had it appeared earlier and in larger numbers. Just 3,514 were eventually built.
Design of the Ki-84 commenced in early...
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