Aviation Past To Present

Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate

Tardy realization Early in 1942 the Japanese army air force realized that while its Nakajima Ki-43 and Ki-44 fighters offered better agility than allied fighthers, they had only adequate performance and inadequate combination of firepower and protection. Nakajima was therefore ordered to develop a replacement with high performance, great agility, heavy armament, and improved protective features. The result was Ki-84, and the first of two prototypes flew in April 1943.

Best Japanese fighter of 1945 The type clearly possessed great potential, and development was pushed ahead with 83 service trials and 42 pre-production aircraft. The Ki-84_Ia entered service in the summer of 1944 as the Army Type 4 Fighter Model 1A Hayate (gale) that gained the Allied reporting name"Frank". Desipe maintenance problems and Allied air superiority, the type achieved an excellent reputation. Production totalled 3,514 aircraft.

Principal versions Ki-84-Ia (initial model), Ki-84-Ib (four 20-mm cannon), Ki-84Ic (two 20 mm and two 30-mm cannon), Ki-84-II (wooden rear fuselage), Ki-106 (three all-wood prototypes), K-113 (one with a large proportion of steel in the structure), and Ki-116 ( one with the lighter 1,500-hp Mitsubishi Ha-33 radial).

Type Nakajima Ki-84-Ia Hayate single-seat fighter.

Engine one 1,900-hp Nakajima Ha-45 radial piston engine.

Performance maximum speed 392 mph at 20,080ft; intial climb rate 3,790 ft per minute; service ceiling 34,350 ft ; range 1,347 miles.

Weights empty 5,864 Ib; maximum take-off 8,576 Ib.

Dimensions span 36 ft 10.5 in; lenght 32 ft 6.5 in; height 11 ft 1.5 in; wing area 226.05 sq ft.

Armament two 0.5-in machine guns and two 20-mm cannon, and provision for two 551-Ib bombs carried under the wings.

Westland LYNX

Franco-British coproduction The Lynx was designed by the British firm Westland but built in collaboration with Aerospatiale, which has a 30% share in the program. The prototype flew in March 1971, and helicopters have been produced for navel and military roles. The Lynx entered service in 1978, and the specifically navel variant differs from the military model in having navel equipment and wheeled tricycle landing gear in place of the land model's twin skids.

Exceptional maneuverability The Lynx's semi-rigid rotor and clean design combine to produce high agility and performance. To these are added the sensors and weapons that make the naval Lynx a potent helicopter for destroyers and frigates. The type's primary tasks are anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, and its secondary tasks SAR, vertical replenishment, and transport of 10 troops or 2,000 Ib of freight. More than 210 naval Lynxes have been produced, and development continues with the Super Lynx, an updated model powered by Gem 42-1s.

Type HAS.Mk 2 four seat multi-role naval helicopter.

Engines  two 900-shp Rolls-Royce Gem 2 turboshafts.

Performance maximum speed 144 mph at sea level; initial climb rate 2,170 ft per minute; hovering ceiling 8,450 ft; range 368 miles.

Weights empty 7,370 Ib; maximum take-off 10,500 Ib.

Dimensions main rotor diameter 42 ft 0 in; length overall, rotors turning 49 ft 9 in; height 11 ft 5 in; main rotor disc area 1,385.4 sq ft.  

Armament  provision for two lightweight homing torpedoes, or four light anti-ship missiles, or other weapons.

Aeritalia/Aermacchi/Embraer AMX

Italian-Brazilian co-operation   During 1977 the Italian air force issued a requirement for a light attack warplane to replace its Aeritalia G91R and G91Y aircrapt. In the same year the Brazilian air force recognized a similar requirement for an EMBRAER AT-26 Xavante replacement, and the countries agreed on the collaborative developmennt of the Italian MB-340 concept.

Multi-role capability  The type that resulted from the program is now called the AMX, and first flew in prototype form during May 1984 for a service debut in 1988. The AMX is conventional in design and construction, but is notably agile and, despite the lack of radar in its basic form, a highly capable attacker with otherwise advanced sensors. There is also an AMX(T) two-seat conversion trainer, and plans call for the development of a radar-fitted version for the anti-shiprole with missile armament.

Type  Single seat multi-role close air support, battlefield interdiction and reconnaissance warplane.

Engine one 11,030 Ib thrust Rolls-Royce Spey Rb168 Mk 807 turbofan built under licence in Italy by Alfa-Romeo Avio, Fiat and Piaggio.

Performance max. speed 568 mph at 36,090 ft; intial climb rate 12,600 ft per minute; service ceiling 42,650 ft; radius 550 miles.

Weights empty 14,770 Ib; max take-off 27,558 Ib

Dimensions span 32 ft 9.75 in; lenght 44 ft 6.5 in; height 15 ft 0.25 in; wing area 226.04 sq ft.

Armament  one 20-mm multi-barrel cannon or(Brazilian aircraft) two 30-mm cannon, and up to 8,377 Ib of disposable stores.