Mitsubishi Ki-51

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The Mitsubishi Ki-51 (Allied codename "Sonia") was a light bomber/dive bomber aircraft in service with the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. It first flew in mid-1939. Initially deployed against Chinese forces, it proved to be too slow to hold up against the fighter aircraft of the other allied powers. However, it performed a useful ground attack role in the China-Burma-India theatre, notably from airfields too rough for many other aircraft. As the war drew to a close, they began to be used in kamikaze attacks. Total production was around 2385 units.

Contents 1 Specifications 1.1 General Characteristics 1.2 Performance 1.3 Armament 2 References

[edit] Specifications

[edit] General Characteristics

• Crew: Two (Pilot and rear gunner)
• Length: 9.20m (30 ft 2.5 in)
• Wingspan: 12.10 m (39 ft 8.25 in)
• Height: 2.73 m (8 ft 11.5 in)
• Wing area: 24.02 m² (258.56 ft²)
• Empty: 1,873 kg (4129 lb)
• Maximum takeoff: 2920 kg (6437 lb)
• Powerplant: 1x Mitsubishi Ha-26-II radial piston engine, rated at 940 hp (691 kW)

[edit] Performance

• Maximum speed: 425 km/h (264 mph)
• Range: 1,060 km (659 miles)
• Service ceiling: 8,270 m (31,070 ft)

[edit] Armament

• 2x 7.7mm forward firing machine guns (replaced with 12.7mm machine guns in later models)
• 1x 7.7mm rear firing machine gun.
• 200kg (441 lb) of ordinance.

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence: Ki-48 - Ki-49 - Ki-50 - Ki-51 - Ki-52 - Ki-53 - Ki-54

[edit] References

[1] [2]