Nakajima Ki-27 NATE

1936

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Nakajima Ki-27 NATE

When in mid-1935 Kawasaki, Mitsubishi and Nakajima were instructed by the Imperial Japanese Army to build competitive prototypes of advanced fighter aircraft, Nakajima responded with a single-seat monoplane fighter derived from the company's Type P.E., which it had started to develop as a private venture. Service trials proved, the Kawasaki Ki-28 to be fastest of the three contenders, but the Nakajima Ki- 27 was by far the most manoeuvrable and, on that basis, 10 pre-production examples were ordered for further service evaluation. Following further testing m late 1937 the type was ordered into production as the Army Type 97 Fighter Model A (Nakajima Ki-27a). Late production aircraft which introduced some refinements, including a further improved cockpit canopy, had the designation Ki-27b.

Nakajima could not have guessed that 3,399 aircraft would be built, by Nakajima (2,020) and Mansyu (1,379), before production came to a halt at the end of 1942, but the type's entry into service over northern China in March 1938 gave an immediate appreciation of its capability, the Ki-27s becoming masters of the airspace until confronted later by the faster Soviet Polikarpov I-16 fighters. At the beginning of the Pacific war the Ki-27s took part in the invasion of Burma, Malaya, the Netherlands East Indies and the Philippines. Allocated the Allied codename 'Nate' (initially 'Abdul' in the China- Burma-India theatre), the Ki-27 had considerable success against the Allies in the initial stages before more modern fighters became available. When this occurred they were transferred for air defence of the home islands, remaining deployed in this capacity until 1943 when they became used increasingly as advanced trainers. As with many Japanese aircraft, their final use was in a kamikaze role.

Nakajima Ki-27 "NATE" on YOUTUBE

Nakajima Ki-27 NATE

Specification 
 MODELKi-27a
 CREW1
 ENGINE1 x Nakajima Ha-1b, 529kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight1790 kg3946 lb
  Empty weight1110 kg2447 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan11.31 m37 ft 1 in
  Length7.53 m25 ft 8 in
  Height3.25 m11 ft 8 in
  Wing area18.55 m2199.67 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed470 km/h292 mph
  Ceiling12250 m40200 ft
  Range w/max.fuel625 km388 miles
 ARMAMENT2 x 7.7mm machine-guns

3-View 
Nakajima Ki-27 NATEA three-view drawing (752 x 931)

Comments
Johann Reiter, 23.04.2017 19:12

Have a picture of my friend Mitsuharu Nagase at age 17 standing in front of his "Nate" while a member of the "Young Cherry Blossoms" kamikaze squadron near Nagoya. I am glad that the war ended before he had his opportunity to die for his emperor. He always told me "I did not want to die". I am proud to have known him. Lost him last year...

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yo mama, e-mail, 09.05.2012 15:23

this is soooo lumpin lame

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Glenn, e-mail, 29.02.2012 05:56

As with other Jap planes, I have this worthy aponent hanging from my ceiling! This was truly a worthy aponent & was the end of many stupid american pilots who didn't listen to the wisdom of Claire Lee Chennault!!

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Glenn, e-mail, 29.02.2012 05:52

As usual, the Chinese don't want to admitt that the American AVG, saved thier yellow Asian Asses from TOTAL EXTINCTION!!! Now thanks to that Democratic asshole Franklin Delano Roosevelt; China belongs to the Commie Chinks now!! All the Nationalist Chinese (Chinese friendly to the US) are now crammed on the island of Taiwan!! No thanks to the damned Democrats!!

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wanshan, 21.06.2011 05:53

I am going to build a replica of this plane! I cannot think of a more desirable warbird! Fabulous little aeroplane!

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Glenn, e-mail, 11.04.2011 03:25

I also forgot to add that Chennault, warned American officials that quote "It climbs like a skyrocket & menuevers like a squirrel. Chennaults doctrine of NEVER turn with Jap planes." Saved many an AVG pilots life. Chennault was brilliant but, like General Billy Mitchel, he was never taken seriously. America had to find out the hard way that trying to turn with Nates & the immortal Zero, was suicide!

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Glenn, e-mail, 11.04.2011 03:14

Those "chinese" guys need to get their facts strait! All during the Japanese invasion /assault of China, the Japanese exacted terrible losses of the fledgling Chinese Air Force. The Chinese were flying obsolete aircraft against a better trained, & more modern Japanese Air Force. They have also forgot, & /or just don't want to admitt that it was not until Claire Lee Chennault, creator of the famed AVG in China, that the Chinese didn't have a chance in Hell against the Japanese. The "Chinese" comentators would do well with reading up on their history!

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Aaron, e-mail, 15.09.2010 19:28

I have seen the Ki.27 listed as THE most manueverable modern fighter ever produced. I have seen statements from ex-AVG pilots saying that it was respected. The Ki.27 was a full generation ahead of the P-26 in performance.

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CHINESE, 14.06.2009 19:40

THE CHINESES WAGED THE BATTLES TO DESTROY THE EVIL FORCE OF THE JAPS!

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leo rudnicki, e-mail, 10.04.2009 05:20

The P26 Peashooter was a much beloved airshow fighter of the thities. They were based in the Phillipines in 1941. they were no longer there in 1942. The I-16's didn't fare well against the KI27. Chennault's tactics was bounce 'em out of the sun, shoot and run. Don't stick around. Dogfighting the nate was suicide. That worked because the P40 had speed & dive. I too have an unknown Scottish laird, tinsnips and a rivet gun.

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Chinese-pilot, 29.12.2008 12:36

Ki-27(Type 97) was the main fighter of the JAAF in the beginning of the invasion in China.But our heroic Chinese pilots can also shot down them.Our heroic Army soldiers can even capture their airbase.
tw.youtube.com /watch?v=WWt7irSIr2Q&feature=related

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Aero-Fox, 31.03.2008 20:32

I would love to have seen a duel between this little number and a Nationalist Chinese Boeing P-26, roughly its contemporary in preformance. Both were potent little aircraft!

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Mick Dunne, e-mail, 29.12.2007 05:21

When my (as yet unkown) distant relative Scottish Lord falls off his perch and leaves me his HUGE fortune, I am going to build a replica of this plane! I cannot think of a more desirable warbird! Fabulous little aeroplane!

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steve, e-mail, 21.05.2007 17:46

I'm doing research on this plane, but the only piece we have acquired is the propeller. I need to know the spec's of it and the attachment housing to the hub.

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