Ki-43-II

This aircraft page is in two sections:

• Historical information about the Ki-43-II in World War II; and
  
• Information about the Ki-43-II in the massively multi-player online combat simulation Aces High II.

World War II aircraft
Ki-43-II
Nicknames	Hayabusa, Oscar, Army Zero
Type	Fighter
Country of origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Nakajima
Crew	Single-seat
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The Ki-43-II in World War II

External Links

Aces High II aircraft
Ki-43-II
Variant of	Ki-43
Type	Fighter
Crew	One
Aces High II loadout options
Package 1	2x 12.7mm MG, 270 rpg
Options	2x 250kg bombs or 2x 200 L drop tanks
Aces High II Main Arenas
Earliest MA	Mid War
Typical perk cost	0 (Late War)
ENY value	35 (Late War)
Available on carrier	no
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The Ki-43-II in Aces High II

Engine Power

The Ki-43 is not a particularly fast aircraft. Top speed at sea level is 285mph and 295mph with WEP. Its peak top speed is 320mph at 20K and 327mph with WEP. It has a rate of climb of around 3,200ft/min up to 8K where performance begins to drop to around 2,600ft/min at 15K and 2,450ft/min at 20K. Performance begins to drop severely above this altitude. A full fuel tank will last you 45 minutes and 77 minutes with drop tanks.

Aces High II Performance Charts

In Game Test Data
Turn performance
Clean w/25% fuel at sea level
Sustained turn radius	361 ft.
Sustained turn rate	30.9 dps
Corner Velocity	176 mph
Turn rate at CV	42.2 dps
Stall speed	72 mph
Full flaps w/25% fuel at sea level
Sustained turn radius	293 ft.
Sustained turn rate	28.4 dps
Stall speed	63 mph
Acceleration times
From 150 mph to 200 mph	10.0
From 150 mph to 250 mph	27.0
From 200 mph to 250 mph	17.0
From 150 mph to 300 mph	NA
From 300 mph to 350 mph	NA
Sources
MOSQ Test Data
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Firepower

A large drawback of the Ki-43 is its firepower, or rather lack of. Armed with only two 12.7mm machine guns the Oscar is severely undergunned when compaired to other Mid-War and Late-War aircraft. The Japanese Ho-103 12.7mm guns have a lower velocity than their US .50 caliber counterparts and are loaded with high explosive rounds that only become effective around D300. The guns carry 270 rounds per gun which will give you around 20 seconds of firing time. To effectively use the guns you should get within D200 - D300 and try to keep your fire on the enemy for a few of seconds. It may not seem like you are inflicting much damage initially, and that probably is the case, but sustained fire will dispatch most fighters. The high explosive rounds are most effective against the wings of your opponent and a one second burst against these will often tear one off. The guns are similarly effective at close range against light bombers but begin to struggle against medium bombers and do very little damage to heavy bombers.

The 250kg bombs can be effective at destroying vehicles, especially when coupled with the aircrafts maneuverability which makes bombing very easy and very accurate.

Maneuverability

The Ki-43's major strength is its maneuverability. The aircraft is extremely light. Roll rate is well above average and turn rate is excellent. The Ki-43's greatest asset is its high speed flaps which make the aircraft one of the best turn-fighters in the skies. The first notch of flaps can be deployed at 250mph and the second notch at 200mph making turn very tightly. The aircraft remains controllable at speeds as low as 80 mph and is very forgiving in a stall. Dive performance is not good and long dives should be avoided. Controls become stiff in a dive over 350mph and lock up almost completely at around 390mph. Any sharp movements or maneuvering can tear off a wing, or both. To exit a dive you should cut your throttle and slowly pull back on the stick until the controls become responsive again.

Fighting in the Ki-43-II

Fighting against the Ki-43-II

External Links

Vudu15's video review of the Ki-43-II.