Which was the best fixed undercarriage fighter?

[Admiral Beez]

Nakajima Ki-27 - 470 km/h (290 mph) 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns
Fokker D.XXI - 460 km/h (285 mph), 4 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns
Fiat CR.42 - 441 km/h (274 mph) 2 × 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda SAFAT machine guns
Mitsubishi A5M - 435 km/h (270 mph) 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 aircraft machine guns
Gloster Gladiator -407 km/h (253 mph) 4 x .303 in Vickers machine guns
Dewoitine D.510 - 402 km/h (250 mph) 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano-Suiza HS.9 cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm (0.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns
PZL P.11 - 390 km/h (240 mph) 4 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) FN Browning machine guns.

I listed them by top speed, with the Ki-27 the clear winner in this regard. Any others? I excluded the Curtiss Hawk Model 75H as it wasn't sold to combatants, plus the Miles M.20 and IAR 15 as these two didn't go past the testing phase. The Dewoitine is dead slow, but the only one with a cannon.

Can we throw in the Kawanishi N1K1 "Rex" floatplane fighter?

 

[Just Schmidt]

Nakajima Ki-27 - 470 km/h (290 mph) 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 89 machine guns
Fokker D.XXI - 460 km/h (285 mph), 4 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Vickers machine guns
Fiat CR.42 - 441 km/h (274 mph) 2 × 12.7 mm (0.500 in) Breda SAFAT machine guns
Mitsubishi A5M - 435 km/h (270 mph) 2× 7.7 mm (0.303 in) Type 97 aircraft machine guns
Gloster Gladiator -407 km/h (253 mph) 4 x .303 in Vickers machine guns
Dewoitine D.510 - 402 km/h (250 mph) 1 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano-Suiza HS.9 cannon, 2 × 7.5 mm (0.295 in) MAC 1934 machine guns
PZL P.11 - 390 km/h (240 mph) 4 x 7.92 mm (0.312 in) FN Browning machine guns.

I listed them by top speed, with the Ki-27 the clear winner in this regard. Any others? I excluded the Curtiss Hawk Model 75H as it wasn't sold to combatants, plus the Miles M.20 and IAR 15 as these two didn't go past the testing phase. The Dewoitine is dead slow, but the only one with a cannon.

Can we throw in the Kawanishi N1K1 "Rex" floatplane fighter?

Possibly the avia B 534 IV ought to be in the running: 405 km/h (252 mph) 4 x 7.7 MK 30

Certainly the fixed undercarriage Curtiss Hawk (M,N and O, data for 75-O: 451 Km/h (280 mph) - my sources are somewhat contradictory as for armament, but some with at least 4 x 7.62 Madsen M.1935, some with six, some with two Madsen 23 mm replacing two machine guns. I'm not sure why not sold to combatants should disqualify them, anyway China certainly was a combatant (and even to some extent Thailand), though they may not have seen much combat. Then again, I'm not sure how much combat Dewoitine D.510 saw, but would be thrilled to learn more.

Ikarus IK 2: 435 km/h (260 mph) 1x 20 Hispano suiza HS 404, 2 x 7.92 Darne may not qualify for not enough being operational?

I am not sure what the Avia B-35 had for stats, and think the (barely) operational B-135 was not fixed undercarriage.

For planes in widespread service I'm inclined to go with the Ki-27 myself, though i always thought the performance figures looks a little suspicious for a 710 hp engine. It performs nearly as well as the early Ki 43 and was IIRC even more manouverable, though it may not beat the biplanes in that area.

 

[yulzari]

I think that the Avia B534's cruising speed has been quoted. The maximum was 252mph.

 

[GrauGeist]

Don't forget the Boeing P-26.
It's top speed was 234 and had either twin .30 MGs or a combination of a .30 MG and a .50 MG.

It had the distinction of downing some A6Ms during the invasion of the Philippines, flown by Philippine Army pilots.
It was also used by the Chinese Air Force.

In regards to the Curtiss, the Hawk 75H/M did see service in China.

 

[Just Schmidt]

I think that the Avia B534's cruising speed has been quoted. The maximum was 252mph.

You're right, though kmph is correct. i'll edit.

 

[swampyankee]

Another one which may belong on the list is the Soviet I-15. It was considerably slower than any of the aircraft listed top speed was* 367 km/hr (228 mph), with four 7.62 mm PV-1 machine guns. It served (mostly in ground attack roles) into 1942.


--------------------
* according to the dubitable Wikipedia.

 

[Dimlee]

I'd suggest taking into account the rate of climb and turn rate/radius - characteristics very important for all those "dogfighters".
Unless we relegate them to other roles - as the above-mentioned I-15 in 1942.
By the way, I-15 could turn in 8 sec. Probably, one of the best results.

As for the PZL family, P.24 was the ultimate version.

 

[Just Schmidt]

I'd suggest taking into account the rate of climb and turn rate/radius - characteristics very important for all those "dogfighters".
Unless we relegate them to other roles - as the above-mentioned I-15 in 1942.
By the way, I-15 could turn in 8 sec. Probably, one of the best results.

You're right about the climb and manouverability, but I have seen very little apart from general statements of the latter, and few comparable facts on the former.

I (somewhat arbitrarily) left out the I-15 (and I-15bis/I-152?) for not having to account for everything with top speeds below 400 km/h. But now we're at it, there's also the Fiat CR.32bis. 360 km/h (224 mph), 2 x 12.7 Breda machineguns, 2 x 7.7 Breda machineguns, said to be extremely agile.

Do you know whether the I-15 had early protection for the pilot?

 

[Dimlee]

I agree. Those parameters are not easy to find.

I-15 protection - good question... As far as I know, seat armor plate became standard only in the further development of I-153 (some sources say in I-15bis, but there were complaints about no protection as late as in summer 1941). There were field modifications in I-15, however. 9mm and 12mm steel plates were installed during the Spanish Civil War. 12mm plate installation demanded the removal of the battery.

 

[GrauGeist]

Might want to include the Kawasaki KI-10 on that list, too.
It was the predecessor to the KI-27, saw combat in Munchuria and China as well as being present at Khalkin Gol. It was retired to training but then later was put back into service for coastal patrol, serving to the end of the war.

It's top speed was 250 mph and was armed with two 7.7mm MGs.

 

[fastmongrel]

Gloster Gauntlet saw a little action as did the Hawker Fury

 

[special ed]

I always liked the Avia B.534-IV for looks and performance. I scratch built one in 1:72 in my plastic modelling days using a hurricane fuselage and PT-17 wings. In the 60s & 70s the best in 1:72 were Frog and Airfix. Still have my stash from those days.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

My money is on the Fokker D.XXI but I'm also seeing how we can morph this out to another thread. Fixed landing gear bi-planes from say 1930 on.

 

[Bernhart]

Gloster gladiator would fit in too

 

[GrauGeist]

Gloster gladiator would fit in too

5th down on the list in the first post.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I'd suggest taking into account the rate of climb

I tried to get ROC for each, but there's too much variability in UOM. None give a standard ft/min, but instead show time to climb to a seemingly random altitude.

 

[Admiral Beez]

My money is on the Fokker D.XXI but I'm also seeing how we can morph this out to another thread. Fixed landing gear bi-planes from say 1930 on.

I don't see the need to separate them, instead I chose fixed undercarriage due to their lower tech, earlier designs. I'd put a CR.42 or Gladiator biplane up against the Dewoitine D.510 or PZL P.11.

 

[BiffF15]

I'm gonna win this contest.

The best fixed gear fighter ever made was the P-39.

Bam!

 

[GrauGeist]

 

[buffnut453]

I'm gonna win this contest.

The best fixed gear fighter ever made was the P-39.

Bam!

Go and stand in the naughty corner.....RIGHT NOW!!!!!