Kawanishi N1K
| N1K/N1K-J | |
|---|---|
| Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden Kai | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Kawanishi Aircraft Company |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service |
| Number built | 1,532 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1943 |
| First flight | N1K1: 6 May 1942 N1K1-J: 27 December 1942 N1K2-J: 31 December 1943 |
| Retired | 1945 |
The Kawanishi N1K was an Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft which was developed in two variants. The N1K Kyōfū (強風, Strong Wind) (Allied reporting name Rex), a floatplane designed to support forward offensive operations where no airstrips were available. The N1K-J Shiden (紫電, Violet Lightning) (reporting name George), a land-based version of the N1K. Contemporary pilots and Allied reports praised the N1K-J’s performance, noting its high speed and maneuverability compared with other Japanese fighters of the period.
The improved N1K2-J Shiden Kai (紫電改) made its first flight on 1 January 1944. It carried four 20 mm cannons and used an automatic flap-extension mechanism, operated by a mercury-tilt sensor, to enhance lift during tight turns. These automatically deploying flaps increased wing lift during high-G maneuvers, allowing a tighter turn radius without additional pilot input. Unlike the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the Shiden Kai could engage late-war allied fighters such as the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and P-51 Mustang on equal terms.