Nakajima Type 1 Fighter Hayabusa / Ki-43 (Oscar)
Technical Information

Background
Built by Nakajima. This aircraft was designed by Hideo Itokawa in response to an response to a Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) specification in December 1937 to replace the Ki-27 Nate. Designed by the Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) as Type 1 Fighter / Ki-43 Oscar. Nicknamed by the Japanese Hayabusa (Peregrine Falcon). Code named "Oscar" by the Allies. During the Pacific War, this was the primary JAAF fighter with incredible maneuverability and a fast rate of climb but was vulnerable to enemy fire, and its armament was insufficient for bringing down more heavily armored Allied aircraft.

Ki-43-I (Type 1, Model I)
Powered by a Nakajima Ha-25 radial engine with a two-bladed engine. Armed with two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns or one 7.7mm Type 89 machine gun and one 12.7mm Ho-103 machine gun. All Nakajima built production Ki-43-I (Model 1) aircraft had three-digit manufacture numbers. Ki-43-I Oscar manufacture numbers were coded by adding +100 to the true serial number. For example, Ki-43-I 750 was the 650th Oscar produced. Ki-43 (Model 1) aircraft built by the Army Air Arsenal with four-digit manufacture numbers.

Ki-43-II (Type 1, Model II)
Power was provided by a Nakajima Ha-115 with a three-bladed engine. All Nakajima built production Ki-43-II (Model 2) aircraft had four-digit MNs. Ki-43-II Oscar manufacture numbers were coded by adding +5000 to the true serial number. Tachikawa Ki-43 (Model 2) aircraft had five-digit MNs.

Ki-43-III (Type 1, Model III)
Two 12.7mm machine guns. Powered by a Nakajima Ha-115-II radial engine capable of 920 kW (1,230 hp). Tachikawa Ki-43 (Model 3) aircraft had four-digit MNs.

Production
A total of 5,919 were built by Nakajima, Army Air Arsenal and Tachikawa.

Technical Details Ki-43-II Oscar
Crew  One (pilot)
Engine  1 x Nakajima Ha-115 fourteen cylinder radial engine driving a two (Model I) or three bladed propeller (Model II or Model III)
Span  1.84m
Length  8.92m
Height  3.27m
Maximum Speed  329 mph at 13,125 ft
Range  1,000 miles
Armament  2 x fixed forward firing machine guns in the upper cowling (varied by model, either 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns or 12.7mm Ho-103 machine guns with 270 rounds per weapon)
Wing Pylons  2 x drop tanks or 2 x 250 kg (551 lbs) bombs