Nakajima Ki-34

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Ki-34 "Thora"
Type	Civil airliner/Light military transport
Manufacturer	Nakajima Aircraft Company
Maiden flight	12 September 1936
Status	out of service
Primary users	Imperial Japanese Army Imperial Japanese Navy Greater Japan Airlines Manchurian Airlines
Number built	318

The Nakajima Ki-34 was a Japanese light transport of World War II. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane; the undercarriage was of tailwheel type with retractable main units. During the Pacific War, the Allies assigned the type the code-name "Thora".

Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Aircraft markings 4 Operators 4.1 Military operators 4.2 Civil operators 5 Specifications (Ki-34) 6 References 7 External links 8 Related content

[edit] Development

The Ki-34 was originally designed as a civil transport and was designated AT-2. The prototype, fitted with 432-kW (580-hp) Nakajima Kotobuki 2-1 engines, first flew on 12 September 1936.

[edit] Operational history

Thirty-two AT-2s were produced for Greater Japan Airlines and Manchurian Airlines.^[1]

Redesignated Ki-34 and fitted with more powerful Kotobuki 41 engines, the type was adopted by the Army in 1937. At a later date, some of the Army machines were transferred to the Navy. These received the new designation L1N1.

[edit] Aircraft markings

[edit] Operators

[edit] Military operators

•  Japan
  • Imperial Japanese Army
  • Imperial Japanese Navy

[edit] Civil operators

•  Japan:
  • Greater Japan Airlines
•  Manchukuo:
  • Manchurian Airlines

[edit] Specifications (Ki-34)

Data from Warbirds Resource Group^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 8 passengers
• Length: 15.30 m (59 ft 2.25 in)
• Wingspan: 19.81 m (65 ft 0 in)
• Height: 4.15 m (13 ft 7.5 in)
• Wing area: 49.2 m² (529.6 ft²)
• Empty weight: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)
• Loaded weight: 5,250 kg (11,574 lb)
• Useful load: kg (kg)
• Max takeoff weight: kg (lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Nakajima Kotobuki 9-cylinder, air-cooled radial, 529-kW (710-hp) each

Performance

• Never exceed speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Maximum speed: 360 km/h (knots, 224 mph)
• Cruise speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Stall speed: km/h (knots, mph)
• Range: 1,200 km (nm, 746 mi)
• Service ceiling: 7,000 m (22,965 ft)
• Rate of climb: m/s (ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² (lb/ft²)
• Power/mass: W/kg (hp/lb)

Armament

none

[edit] References

1. ^ Virtual Aircraft Museum.
2. ^ Warbirds Resource Group.

[edit] External links

[edit] Related content