[Graham Boak]

It had a higher wing loading that the Zero and other similar Japanese fighters, so cannot help but have lower manoeuvrability. It is entirely a matter of what you are used to - most Allied fighters (particularly US and carrier types) had similar wing loadings so it would seem unremarkable to pilots used to these types. Sakai's comments are entirely reliable when viewed with this in mind. If Sakai had ever had to fight with the Raiden he would have learned to make use of its superior power.

I suspect that much the same background will have affected his judgement of the Shiden.