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SAF J1A2 Shinden

2,143 GL740  21 hours ago
Auto Credit Based on GL740's F-38C Super Scimitar

Yes, a fictional "Shinden" based on, you guessed it ...

Specs
Top Speed:
– 790 kph TAS @ sea level
– 982 kph TAS @ 5000 m ASL
Pitch Rate:
– 42.0°/s @ 647 kph IAS @ sea level

Armament
2 × 20mm and 2 × 30mm autocannons

All activation groups avilable via cockpit


Fictional story

From the outset, the J1A2 Shinden was conceived as a pure high-altitude interceptor, its sole purpose: to dominate the skies above 5,000 meters. Every powerplant imaginable was considered during the early design phase—including the fragile, unproven jet engines of the time—but all were ultimately rejected. The designers settled on the VK-122 Adler, a high-altitude performer shared with the N1A2 Seiran, prized for its lightweight construction and consistent output where thinner air choked other engines.
The Shinden’s striking silhouette—a needle-like fuselage, sharply swept wings, and contra-rotating propellers—was as functional as it was fearsome, squeezing every ounce of performance from its single water-cooled engine. Armed with two 30mm and two 20mm autocannons, it was a gunfighter through and through. There were no pylons, no bombs—just speed, altitude, and firepower.
In addition to its experimental airframe, the Shinden featured an early model airborne radar with a basic tracking system, and was outfitted with cutting-edge analog electronics for its time—including weapons status displays and an angle-of-attack indicator—giving pilots a tactical edge in the thin, chaotic air of high-altitude combat.

But the speed-focused design came with its compromises. The swept wings that made it stable at high altitude rendered it sluggish and unforgiving at low speeds. Visibility from the cockpit was limited due to the absence of a bubble canopy, and the rear-mounted propeller made ejection a dangerous and complex affair. Like many purpose-built machines, the Shinden demanded a skilled hand—and a touch of recklessness—to master.
Throughout the war, the Shinden was primarily deployed in counter-bombing and counter-CAS operations, intercepting WNA Jaguars and Swordfishes before they could strike. It was often the last line of defense between high-altitude bomber formations and their targets below—fast, fierce, and feared.

General Characteristics

  • Predecessor F-38C Super Scimitar
  • Created On Android
  • Wingspan 54.4ft (16.6m)
  • Length 49.9ft (15.2m)
  • Height 13.0ft (4.0m)
  • Empty Weight 9,158lbs (4,154kg)
  • Loaded Weight 11,815lbs (5,359kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.211
  • Wing Loading 21.0lbs/ft2 (102.7kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 561.7ft2 (52.2m2)
  • Drag Points 2146

Parts

  • Number of Parts 97
  • Control Surfaces 10
  • Performance Cost 657