Quick Info
Designed as a successor to the Ki-43, the Hayate(Gale/Hurricane)
was one of the best fighters available to the Imperial Japanese Army Air
Force in the closing stages of World War 2. It's high level of basic capability
was boosted by the fact that, unlike several other high-performance Japanese
fighters, it was available in useful numbers and without the teething problems
that affected many of these other types. Entering service in the first
half of 1944, the Ki-84 was built to the extent of 3,512 aircraft in two
primary variants, namely the Ki-84-I(four sub-variants distinguished by
their steadily more capable armament) and the Ki-84-II (two sub-variants)
derivative of the Ki-84-I with a wooden rear fuselage and fittings in an
effort to reduce the drain on Japan's dwindling reserves of strategic light
alloys. The final variant was the Ki-116, a conversion by Mansyu from a
standard K-84-Ia with a lighter powerplant.
Variants
Ki-84 Prototype (2 prototypes,
83 trial, and 42 pre-production aircraft built)
Ki-84-Ia
Ki-84-Ib 12.7mm guns replaced
with 20mm cannon
Ki-84-Ic Specialized bomber-destroyers,
with wing-mounted 20mm cannon replaced with a pair of 30mm cannon
Ki-84-II Ki84-Ia with wooden
rear fuselage (built in small numbers )
Ki-84N, Ki-84P and Ki-84R Preliminary
design designations given to projected developments
Ki-106 All-wood version (3
built)
Ki-113 Based on Ki-84-Ib,
utilized carbon steel for cockpit, bulkheads, ribs, and steel sheet for
airframe skin (1 built)
Ki-116 Lightened version new
engine and three-bladed propeller (1 built)
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