MITSUBISHI J2M RAIDEN A7M REPPU SAM Ki-46 DINAH Mechanic of World Aircraft 4

Description: Offered by Over The Blue Horizon and recently obtained in Tokyo is Volume 4 from the well-regarded ‘MECHANIC OF THE WORLD’ series featuring three important Mitsubishi aircraft: the J2M RAIDEN (JACK), the A7M REPPU (SAM), and the Ki-46 Army Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft (DINAH). The ‘MECHANIC OF THE WORLD’ series was printed in the early 1990s, and the well-done hardcopies are still highly sought after today. Most of the books covered multiple aircraft, and although text was mainly in Japanese, they contained superbly executed line drawings, useful photographs, and color drawings/profiles – absolutely perfect for the military historian and advanced aviation modeler. The first aircraft covered in this volume is the Mitsubishi J2M RAIDEN -- a single-engine, land-based fighter aircraft designed by Jiro Horikoshi, creator of the Mitsubishi A6M ZERO. The RAIDEN was a local-defense interceptor intended to counter the threat of high-altitude bomber raids, and thus relied on speed, climb performance, and armament at the expense of maneuverability. The J2M was a sleek but stubby craft with its over-sized MITSUBISHI Kasei engine buried behind a long cowling, cooled by an intake fan and connected to the propeller with a long extension shaft. As a result, pilot visibility was poor. The first few produced J2M aircraft were delivered to the development units in December 1942 but teething problems kept it from being used operationally until late 1943. Several J2Ms operated from Guam and Saipan and a small number of aircraft were deployed to the Philippines. The second aircraft in this book, the MITSUBISHI A7M SAM (REPPU), was designed as the successor to the A6M ZERO with development beginning in 1942. Performance objectives were to achieve superior speed, climb, diving, and armament over the ZERO, as well as better maneuverability. As a result, the wing area and overall size were significantly greater, on par with the American P-47 Thunderbolt. Development of the REPPU was delayed due to Jiro Horikoshi's work on the Mitsubishi J2M RAIDEN. However, high attrition rates of Zero fighter planes to the U.S. fighter aircraft put a high priority on the Navy to bring about a successor. The development team initially intended to develop a new engine, the Ha-43, for the airframe, but had to make do with the existing Nakajima Homare. The resulting A7M1 proved a mismatch between engine and airframe, and with a top speed barely exceeding that of the ZERO, it was a disappointment. The Navy ordered development to stop, but MITSUBISHI continued on its own, eventually achieving a test flight with the completed Ha-43 engine. The A7M2 achieved a top speed of 392 mph, while climb and other areas of performance surpassed the ZERO, leading the Navy to change its mind and adopt the craft. The A7M2 was also equipped with automatic combat flaps, used earlier on the KAWANISHI N1K-J SHIDEN, significantly improving maneuverability. Eight prototypes were completed by the end of the war, but the type never saw combat. The third (and last) aircraft featured in this book is the MITSUBISHI Ki-46 DINAH, a twin-engined reconnaissance plane used by the Japanese Imperial Army. This aircraft was first used by the Japanese Army in Manchuria and China, where seven units were equipped with it, and also at times by the Japanese Imperial Navy in certain reconnaissance missions over the north coasts of Australia and New Guinea. MITSUBISHI produced a total of 1,742 examples of all versions (Types I-IV) during 1941-44. In 1944-45, the DINAH was modified as a high altitude interceptor, with two 20 mm cannons in the nose and one 37 mm cannon in an "upwards-and-forwards" position. These three Japanese WWII aircraft enjoy significant coverage in this 212 page, 7.5 x 10.5 inch hardcover with dustjacket published in 1993. Condition is LIKE NEW – super nice! Note that Over the Blue Horizon ships from the USA with FREE United States Postal Service (USPS) PRIORITY to USA buyers! eBay charges sales tax for certain states; Over the Blue Horizon charges Hawaii residents state general excise tax. Your purchase will be carefully wrapped to ensure that it arrives in the same condition as described in the eBay listing. If you are not happy with your purchase for whatever reason, we will work something out -- your satisfaction is GUARANTEED. Regardless of where you are in the world, buy with confidence from a well-established eBay merchant with a sterling reputation and an exceptionally high customer satisfaction rate.

Price: 36.99 USD

Location: Kailua, Hawaii

End Time: 2024-12-05T07:00:00.000Z

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