A6M ZERO later models maneuverability

[inqistor]

Does anyone know reason, why later models of A6M have worse maneuverability? I can not find any mention of this, beside early version of M3, and M5c. Actually M5 had strengthened wings, so should have even better maneuverability, than M3a (the same actually happened for NICK, according to captured documents).

According to this table, M5 is only 69 kg heavier, than M3 model, which hardly justifies reduction (and it is even less, than difference between M2, and M3). Wing loading also rises, but still less, than between M2, and M3, and Power loading is still better, than for M2.

[PaxMondo]

You got wing loading, speed, and weight increasing, with power flat to dropping ... I'm gonna trust Ian on this one.

[wdolson]

Fuel quality was degrading too which required tuning the engine to run on lower octane fuel. The US over estimated the quality of Axis aircraft in some cases because they did their testing on captured aircraft with higher octane avgas than the Axis forces were using.

Bill