Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate
Country of origin
Japan
Japan
ManufacturerNakajima
The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (キ84 疾風; lit. "Gale") is a single-seat fighter designed and produced by the Japanese aviation manufacturer Nakajima Aircraft Company. Flown by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service (IJAAS) in the last two years of World War II, its service designation was Army Type 4 Fighter (四式戦闘機, yon-shiki-sentō-ki). The Allied reporting name for the type was "Frank". The Ki-84 is generally considered the best Japanese fighter to operate in large numbers during the conflict.
Development begun in early 1942 via an instruction to produce an all-purpose long-range fighter capable of matching the performance of the best Western fighters then in use. Within one year, Nakajima had designed an aircraft that possessed a relatively high maximum speed, excellent maneuverability, and formidable armament (typically two 30 mm and two 20 mm cannon). It was also considerably more durable than many Japanese fighters of the era due to its incorporation of defensive armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, the result of a drastic difference in design philosophy. The first prototype performed its maiden flight in April 1943; positively received by test pilots, deliveries of the type commenced...
Development begun in early 1942 via an instruction to produce an all-purpose long-range fighter capable of matching the performance of the best Western fighters then in use. Within one year, Nakajima had designed an aircraft that possessed a relatively high maximum speed, excellent maneuverability, and formidable armament (typically two 30 mm and two 20 mm cannon). It was also considerably more durable than many Japanese fighters of the era due to its incorporation of defensive armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, the result of a drastic difference in design philosophy. The first prototype performed its maiden flight in April 1943; positively received by test pilots, deliveries of the type commenced...
