Nakajima Ki-84 “Hayate”

The Nakajima Ki-84 was a single-engine fighter aircraft developed by the Japanese company Nakajima Aircraft Company during World War II. The aircraft was also known by its Allied reporting name “Frank”.

The Ki-84 was designed to meet the Japanese army’s requirements for a high-performance fighter to counter the newer Allied fighters such as the P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang. The first prototype flew in March 1943, and the Ki-84 entered service with the Japanese army in early 1944.

The Ki-84 was a low-wing monoplane with a liquid-cooled inline engine and retractable landing gear. It was armed with two 20mm cannon and two 12.7mm machine guns mounted in the wings. Later variants of the Ki-84 were equipped with additional guns and rockets for ground attack missions.

The Ki-84 was considered one of the best Japanese fighters of the war, with excellent performance and maneuverability. It was fast and well-armed, and could outperform most Allied fighters in a dogfight. However, it suffered from a lack of spare parts due to Japan’s dwindling industrial resources, and was also vulnerable to engine reliability problems.

Despite these issues, the Ki-84 remained in service until the end of the war, and was used in several major campaigns, including the defense of the Philippines and the defense of Japan. It was also exported to other countries, including Thailand and Manchukuo.