Yokosuka K5Y

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The Yokosuka K5Y biplane trainer aircraft (Allied codename: Willow) served in the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II.

Due to its bright orange paint scheme (applied to all Japanese military trainers for visibility), it earned the nickname "aka-tombo", or "red dragonfly", after a type of insect common throughout Japan. The aircraft was based on the Yokosuka Type 91 Trainer, but stability problems led to a redesign by Kawanishi in 1933. It entered service in 1934, and remained in use throughout the war. A floatplane type (K5Y-2) was also produced. After the initial 60 examples by Kawanishi, manufacture was continued by Kyūshū Aircraft Company, Nihon Hikoki, Hitachi, and Fuji, for a total of 5,500.

[edit] Specifications (K5Y1)

General characteristics

• Crew: Two
• Length: 8.05 m (26 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 11.0 m (36 ft 1 in)
• Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
• Wing area: 27.7 m² (298.2 ft²)
• Powerplant: 1× Hitachi Amakaze 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 225 kW (300 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 210 km/h (130 mph)
• Range: 1,020 km (635 mi)
• Service ceiling: 5,700 m (18,700 ft)
• Rate of climb: 3.7 m/s (730 ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)

Armament

• 1x 7.7 mm Type 89 machine gun
• 1x 7.7 mm Type 92 machinge gun on rotating mount

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