The Mitsubishi A7M Reppu (Hurricane) single-seat carrier-based fighter was intended by the famous aircraft designer Jiro Horikoshi to be the successor to the A6M Zero-sen fighter.
Even as early as 1940, Jiro Horikoshi was fully aware that he had better start working on the successor to his fabulous Zero fighter. He envisaged an aircraft similar in overall configuration to the Zero but utilizing the much more powerful Mitsubishi NK9A eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, which was then under development. A 17-Shi specification for the aircraft was issued by the Japanese Navy on July 6, 1942. A maximum speed of 379 mph at 19,685 feet was called for, and the maneuverability was to be at least equal to that of the A6M3 Model 32.
However, In September of 1942 the Japanese Navy insisted that the aircraft be designed around the less-powerful Nakajima NK9K Homare 22 radial. Since the Navy signed the checks, Horikoshi reluctantly agreed.
The A7M1 prototype flew for the first time on May 6, 1944, test pilot Eisaku Shibamaya being at the controls. Test pilots reported that the A7M1 handled extremely well, and that the use of the combat flaps made the A7M1 JUST AS MANEUVERABLE AS THE ZERO. However, they also reported that the aircraft was significantly underpowered for its weight.
Soon after this, the Japanese Navy authorized Horikoshi to begin work on the A7M2 version. This was to be powered by the Mitsubishi MK9A radial, which was the engine that HORIKOSHI HAD WANTED ALL ALONG. The MK9A had a larger diameter than the Homare 22, which required a complete redesign of the forward fuselage. The first A7M2 prototype flew on October 13, 1944, and initial tests indicated that high altitude performance was much better, with maximum speed being 390 mph at 21,655 feet. Service ceiling was 35,760 feet and an altitude of 19,685 feet could be reached in 6 minutes 7 seconds. The armament consisted of four wing-mounted 20-mm cannon.
However, the Japanese aircraft industry was in desperate straits at this stage in the war. The production of the Mitsubishi NK9A engine was delayed by a disastrous earthquake which struck the Nagoya area in December of 1944. Massive B-29 raids followed shortly thereafter, which caused additional production delays. The second A7M2 prototype was destroyed in a landing accident, and three other prototypes were destroyed on the ground during American raids. Only three of the seven prototypes that were built remained in flying condition by the end of the Pacific War, and only one production aircraft had been completed.
The A7M2 was assigned the Allied code name Sam. So far as I am aware, the Reppu never saw any combat.
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_other/a7mbau.html
http://www.hlj.com/product/FNMFB-11
http://home.interlink.or.jp/~katoh00/kaigun/reppu/reppu.htm
Even as early as 1940, Jiro Horikoshi was fully aware that he had better start working on the successor to his fabulous Zero fighter. He envisaged an aircraft similar in overall configuration to the Zero but utilizing the much more powerful Mitsubishi NK9A eighteen-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, which was then under development. A 17-Shi specification for the aircraft was issued by the Japanese Navy on July 6, 1942. A maximum speed of 379 mph at 19,685 feet was called for, and the maneuverability was to be at least equal to that of the A6M3 Model 32.
However, In September of 1942 the Japanese Navy insisted that the aircraft be designed around the less-powerful Nakajima NK9K Homare 22 radial. Since the Navy signed the checks, Horikoshi reluctantly agreed.
The A7M1 prototype flew for the first time on May 6, 1944, test pilot Eisaku Shibamaya being at the controls. Test pilots reported that the A7M1 handled extremely well, and that the use of the combat flaps made the A7M1 JUST AS MANEUVERABLE AS THE ZERO. However, they also reported that the aircraft was significantly underpowered for its weight.
Soon after this, the Japanese Navy authorized Horikoshi to begin work on the A7M2 version. This was to be powered by the Mitsubishi MK9A radial, which was the engine that HORIKOSHI HAD WANTED ALL ALONG. The MK9A had a larger diameter than the Homare 22, which required a complete redesign of the forward fuselage. The first A7M2 prototype flew on October 13, 1944, and initial tests indicated that high altitude performance was much better, with maximum speed being 390 mph at 21,655 feet. Service ceiling was 35,760 feet and an altitude of 19,685 feet could be reached in 6 minutes 7 seconds. The armament consisted of four wing-mounted 20-mm cannon.
However, the Japanese aircraft industry was in desperate straits at this stage in the war. The production of the Mitsubishi NK9A engine was delayed by a disastrous earthquake which struck the Nagoya area in December of 1944. Massive B-29 raids followed shortly thereafter, which caused additional production delays. The second A7M2 prototype was destroyed in a landing accident, and three other prototypes were destroyed on the ground during American raids. Only three of the seven prototypes that were built remained in flying condition by the end of the Pacific War, and only one production aircraft had been completed.
The A7M2 was assigned the Allied code name Sam. So far as I am aware, the Reppu never saw any combat.
http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~pettypi/elevon/baugher_other/a7mbau.html
http://www.hlj.com/product/FNMFB-11
http://home.interlink.or.jp/~katoh00/kaigun/reppu/reppu.htm
