mitsubishi a6m4

[shaba]

http://25.media.tumblr.com/fe3f9e8f563ee9fe8e1c791372bd8269/tumblr_mgi5j3RSqM1qmkg62o1_1280.jpg
is this a picture of the a6m4? does anybody know the expected performance stats?

 

[GrauGeist]

That's not an A6M...

If it's a Japanese type, it's one I'm not familiar with.

 

[Shortround6]

It may be. From wiki:

"The A6M4 designation was applied to two A6M2s fitted with an experimental turbo-supercharged Sakae engine designed for high-altitude use. The design, modification and testing of these two prototypes was the responsibility of the First Naval Air Technical Arsenal (第一海軍航空廠?) at Yokosuka and took place in 1943. Lack of suitable alloys for use in the manufacture of the turbo-supercharger and its related ducting caused numerous ruptures of the ducting resulting in fires and poor performance. Consequently, further development of the A6M4 was cancelled.

The picture shows what appears (or could be) a turbo charger on the side of the fuselage. Air intakes could very well be different than a "normal" A6M.

 

[GrauGeist]

That's what threw me, was the SC on the port cowl and extra intake although it does look like an A7M but they didn't make any SC models even though it was considered.

 

[tyrodtom]

The A6M2 had those double scoops on the bottom front.
The front one is the oil cooler, rear is the carb scoop, but that oil cooler scoop looks bigger than the standard A6M2.

Not a very clear picture, but the turbo looks like the installation on a P-38 boom, but vertical, instead of laying flat.

 

[shaba]

looking at it closer its definatly a A6 and it does have a supercharger on the stb side but no exhaust pipe.

 

[tyrodtom]

Look at the installation of the turbo on a P-38, it's exhaust pipe after the turbo is only a few inches long.

You can see it on that A6M4, it's just so short it doesn't show well in that picture.

 

[fubar57]

A6M4

Geo

 

[Shortround6]

P-38 turbo:

The "pipe" is the waste gate discharge. Exhaust gases leave the pipe when the waste gate is open, otherwise gases leave through the blades.

Turbocharger | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Waste gate removed from this turbo charger.

waste gate pipe does not have to be very long.

Long pipes leading from engine to turbocharger trade joint leaks for cooler exhaust on turbine blades.