User blog comment:Void Samukai/Overshadowed: The Underrated Aircraft of WW2/@comment-27822411-20151120030207/@comment-12494172-20151120033018

The Zero was all in all just better. It was also more upgradable than the Ki-43 but the IJN said

"we totally don't need zero's that are faster, more durable, and have better performance across the board!"

No, literally. This is exactly what happened. Mitsubishi proposed to install a 1550 hp engine and was refused to the point they decided to do it in secret. It was reportedly extremely successful to the point it caught the in denial Navies attention however the plant creating the engines was destroyed by a bombing raid and by the time the aircraft were operational the war was over. The ship carrying the aircraft as well as numerous Japanese late war examples encountered a crippling storm. This resulted in the crew DITCHING THE AIRCRAFT into the ocean waters so we cannot verify this by American sources.

This model of Zero was proposed in 1942. One can only imagine how much more formidable the Zero could be if it was upgraded to this engine. Not that it would matter much against the US and the suicidally incompetent IJN commanders.

The Zero could remain airborne for up to SIX HOURS. That is not normal. Especially for a carrier borne aircraft!

Also, I find it funny how everyone but me doesn't need sources to apparently be right.