The Kawanishi N1K is an Imperial Japanese Navy fighter aircraft which was developed in two forms: the N1K Kyōfū (強風, "Strong Wind", Allied reporting name Rex), a floatplane designed to support forward offensive operations where no airstrips were available, and the N1K-J Shiden (紫電, "Violet Lightning", reporting name George), a land-based version...

Jul 27, 2020 · Many people know the Mitsubishi Zero fighter that Japanese pilots flew throughout World War II. Less well-known is that Japan developed another exceptionally good fighter airplane: the N1K2-J Shiden Kai (‘sheeden-kie’ or Violet …

The N1K2-Ja Shiden Kai (Japanese for "Violet Lightning--Improved") was the best fighter used in significant numbers by the Japanese Navy during World War II. Known by the Allies as the "George," this maneuverable, heavily-armed fighter was a formidable opponent in the closing months of the war.

Jun 6, 2023 · The Kawanishi N1K1-J Shiden was a land-based adaptation of the original N1K1 floatplane. It was a robust, mid-wing monoplane design, powered by a 1,990 horsepower Nakajima Homare 21 radial engine. The Homare, which means “pride” or “honour” in Japanese, was a two-row, 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.

The Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai meaning "Violet Lightning, Improved" was a derivative of the N1K1 Kyofu (Rex) floatplane fighter and N1K1-J Shiden fighter. Produced for the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) between December 1943 until July 1945.

Produced too late in World War II to mount a challenge to U.S. air superiority, the N1K2, code named "George" by the Allies, is an example of significant Japanese advances in technology...

Description: Single-seat land-based interceptor fighter (N1K1-J, N1K2-J, N1K3-J, N1K4-J and N1K5-J), single-seat carrier-based fighter (N1K3-A and N1K4-A) or two-seat advanced fighter trainer (N1K2-K). All-metal construction.

The N1K2-J can easily outperform most conventional propeller planes, but it faces difficulties against other superprops, which have better overall performance. The N1K2-J should rely on its mid-speed handling to gain the upper hand in dogfights.

The Kawanishi N1K2-J was restored at the Champlin Fighter Museum by Dave Goss and his restoration team. We did a complete restoration of the "George" inside and out for the National Air and Space Museum, or NASM.

A new version (the N1K2-J Shiden Kai) was designed that moved the wings to the bottom of the fuselage, which simplified the landing gear and improved visibility during ground movement. The N1K2-J took to the air on December 31, 1943, with full production beginning in June of 1944.