Time Period: World War II
Country of Origin: Japan
Type: Fighter Aircraft
Manufacturer: Kawanishi Aircraft Company
Kawanishi N1K Aircraft Overview
The Kawanishi N1K, also known as the “Shiden” or “George” in Allied reporting, was a fighter aircraft developed by the Japanese company Kawanishi during World War II. The N1K was designed to replace the A6M Zero as Japan’s primary naval fighter aircraft.
The N1K had a unique and innovative design, featuring a liquid-cooled engine and a large wing with a thick airfoil section that provided high lift and maneuverability at low speeds. The aircraft was armed with four 20mm cannons and could carry rockets or bombs for ground attack missions.
The N1K was introduced late in the war and saw limited service due to production delays and the deteriorating situation for Japan in the Pacific. Despite this, the N1K proved to be a highly effective fighter aircraft, with a top speed of over 400 mph and excellent maneuverability. It was particularly effective at low altitudes and in ground attack missions.
Today, the N1K is considered one of the best Japanese fighter aircraft of World War II, and examples of the aircraft can be seen in aviation museums around the world.
Kawanishi N1K1-J Specifications
- Crew: One
- Length: 8.885 m (29 ft 2 in)
- Wingspan: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
- Height: 4.06 m (13 ft 4 in)
- Wing area: 23.5 m2 (253 sq ft)
- Airfoil: LB620515-6075
- Empty weight: 2,897 kg (6,387 lb)
- Gross weight: 3,900 kg (8,598 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 4,321 kg (9,526 lb)
- Fuel capacity: 477 L (126 US gal; 105 imp gal) internal + 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank; maximum 800 L (210 US gal; 180 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima NK9H Homare 21 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,473 kW (1,975 hp) at sea level
- Propellers: 4-bladed, 2.987 m (9 ft 9.6 in) diameter constant-speed propeller
Kawanishi N1K1-J Performance
- Maximum speed: 571 km/h (355 mph, 308 kn) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level
-
- 656 km/h (408 mph) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
- Range: 1,078 km (670 mi, 582 nmi) at 272 km/h (169 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
-
- 813 km (505 mi) at 75% Vmaxat 391 km/h (243 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
- Ferry range: 1,746 km (1,085 mi, 943 nmi) maximum with drop tank at 269 km/h (167 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
-
- 1,078 km (670 mi) at 75% Vmax at 381.5 km/h (237.1 mph) at 460 m (1,500 ft)
- Service ceiling: 12,009 m (39,400 ft)
- Rate of climb: 19.7 m/s (3,880 ft/min) at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at sea level
-
- 4,065 ft/min at 3,500 kg (7,717 lb) at 1,798 m (5,900 ft)
- Time to altitude: 3,000 m (10,000 ft) in 2 minutes 36 seconds
-
- 6,100 m (20,000 ft) in 5 minutes 36 seconds
- Wing loading: 166 kg/m2 (34 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Kawanishi N1K1-J Armament
- Guns:
-
- 4 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Type 99 Mark 2 machine guns in the wings.
- Bombs:
-
- 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs
- or
- 1 × 323 L (85 US gal; 71 imp gal) drop tank
