MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Recently I ran across an issue of Flight Journal that has an article in it by Corky Meyer, the WW2 Grumman test pilot, describing his observations when he flew a captured Mitsubishi A6M5 Type 52A in October 1944 at the famous Joint Services Fighter Conference.
He considered the Zero to be very easy to fly, with especially good stall characteristics, the stall being 20 kts lower than American fighters and with no tendency to drop a wing. Its best climb speed was 20 kts lower than the Hellcat and he was amazed that he could not only pull a tight loop but actually gain altitude in the process, even when starting the loop at only 120 kts. With a 120 kt entry speed the Zero could end the loop 1200 ft higher than it started. A Wildcat has a minimum loop entry speed off 160 kts and would lose several hundred feet by the end of the loop.
He found the cockpit to be very comfortable with excellent visibility, with the seat able to be raised so that the pilot's head protruded over the canopy for great visibility during taxiing. There good locations for the instruments, even though he is 6 ft 3 inches tall, although the rudder pedals were too close in to be very comfortable.
The controls were smooth and well balanced at lower speeds but at above 240 kts (275 mph) both the ailerons and elevator were as if they were "set in concrete." In contrast the rudder was if anything too light, even at higher speeds. The official US tests showed that the ailerons got heavy above 200 kts, and obviously 240 kts was an even worse condition.
The Model 52A had a maximum dive speed of only 355 kts. The Wildcat had a max dive speed of 400 kts, the F6F-3 dive limit was 420 kts and the F6F-5 was 455 kts. The A6M5C featured thicker wing skins that increased the max dive speed to 400 kts. But Corky points out it is hard to see how the increased dive speed would do much good if the controls were still all but immovable above 240 kts.
In contrast, looking at the RAF tests of the Brewster Buffalo, the ailerons were judged to be crisp, powerful, and effective up to 400 MPH, better than the Spitfire and Hurricane. The elevator was also tested at up to 400 MPH and also was found to be effective, as was the rudder. While it did drop a wing in a stall, it unstalled very quickly.
The rather obvious conclusion is that if the Buffalo had been equipped with the 1350 HP R-1820 that was fitted to the FM-2 and the B-17G and the pilot had been careful to stay above 250 mph the Zero would not have been able to dominate the Buffalo so easily.
He considered the Zero to be very easy to fly, with especially good stall characteristics, the stall being 20 kts lower than American fighters and with no tendency to drop a wing. Its best climb speed was 20 kts lower than the Hellcat and he was amazed that he could not only pull a tight loop but actually gain altitude in the process, even when starting the loop at only 120 kts. With a 120 kt entry speed the Zero could end the loop 1200 ft higher than it started. A Wildcat has a minimum loop entry speed off 160 kts and would lose several hundred feet by the end of the loop.
He found the cockpit to be very comfortable with excellent visibility, with the seat able to be raised so that the pilot's head protruded over the canopy for great visibility during taxiing. There good locations for the instruments, even though he is 6 ft 3 inches tall, although the rudder pedals were too close in to be very comfortable.
The controls were smooth and well balanced at lower speeds but at above 240 kts (275 mph) both the ailerons and elevator were as if they were "set in concrete." In contrast the rudder was if anything too light, even at higher speeds. The official US tests showed that the ailerons got heavy above 200 kts, and obviously 240 kts was an even worse condition.
The Model 52A had a maximum dive speed of only 355 kts. The Wildcat had a max dive speed of 400 kts, the F6F-3 dive limit was 420 kts and the F6F-5 was 455 kts. The A6M5C featured thicker wing skins that increased the max dive speed to 400 kts. But Corky points out it is hard to see how the increased dive speed would do much good if the controls were still all but immovable above 240 kts.
In contrast, looking at the RAF tests of the Brewster Buffalo, the ailerons were judged to be crisp, powerful, and effective up to 400 MPH, better than the Spitfire and Hurricane. The elevator was also tested at up to 400 MPH and also was found to be effective, as was the rudder. While it did drop a wing in a stall, it unstalled very quickly.
The rather obvious conclusion is that if the Buffalo had been equipped with the 1350 HP R-1820 that was fitted to the FM-2 and the B-17G and the pilot had been careful to stay above 250 mph the Zero would not have been able to dominate the Buffalo so easily.