Kawanishi N1K

Kawanishi N1K Variant History 

N1K1 Kyōfū

(Strong Wind)

Floatplane Fighter

Role

Designed for forward operations where no airstrips were available.

First Flight

6 May 1942.

Engine

Mitsubishi MK4C Kasei 13 radial.

Top Speed

489 km/h (304 mph).

Operational Use

Limited service in South-east Asia, Okinawa, and homeland defence (e.g., Lake Biwa).

Challenges

The float configuration severely limited performance against land-based fighters.

N1K1-J Shiden

(Violet Lightning)

Land-Based Fighter

Development

Privately initiated by Kawanishi to overcome floatplane limitations.

First Flight

27 December 1942.
Engine

Nakajima NK9A Homare 11 radial.

Armament

Heavy, with four 20 mm cannons and two 7.7 mm machine guns.

Performance

Strong manoeuvrability and durability; considered one of Japan’s best land-based fighters.

Allied Codename

George.

N1K2-J Shiden-Kai

(Violet Lightning Modified)

First Flight

31 December 1943.

Design Improvements

Simplified airframe for easier production.

Lowered wing position for better visibility and handling.

Mercury switch-controlled combat flaps for tighter turns.

Combat Effectiveness

Capable of competing with late-war Allied fighters like the F6F Hellcat, F4U Corsair, and P-51 Mustang.

Variants

N1K2-Ja

Fighter-bomber version with wing-mounted bomb racks.

N1K4-J

Prototype with further refinements (limited production).

Legacy and Survivors

Several N1K2-J aircraft survive in museums:

National Museum of Naval Aviation (Pensacola, FL).

National Museum of the USAF (Dayton, OH).

Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Centre (Virginia).

Shikoku Museum (Japan)—recovered from Bungo Channel, linked to 343rd Squadron.