Kawasaki Type 88
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| KDA-2 (Type 88) | |
|---|---|
| Type | Reconnaissance biplane and night bomber |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
| Designed by | Richard Vogt of Dornier |
| Maiden flight | 1927 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force |
| Produced | 1929-1932 |
| Number built | 1117 |
The Kawasaki KDA-2 was a Japanese military reconnaissance biplane designed by the German Richard Vogt for the Imperial Japanese Army.
[edit] Development
The KDA-2 was designed by Richard Vogt to meet a Japanese Army requirement for a reconnaissance biplane. Three prototypes were built by Kawasaki in 1927. Following testing the aircraft was ordered into production as the Army Type 88-1 Reconnaissance Biplane. The aircraft had unequal span wings and a slim angular fuselage, cross-axle tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a 600hp (447kW) BMW VI engine. An improved version (the Type 88-II) was developed with an improved engine cowling and a revised tail unit. By the end of 1931 a total of 707 had been built by both Kawasaki and Tachikawa (187 of the total).
Between 1929 and 1932 a bomber version was built as the Type 88 Light Bomber and 407 were produced. A transport variant was developed as the KDC-2 with room for a pilot and four passengers in an enclosed cabin. Only two KDC-2s were built and one of was tested on floats.
[edit] Operational history
Both reconnaissance and the bomber version saw action with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in Manchuria and a few were still in service in 1937 during fighting at Shanghai.
[edit] Variants
- KDA-2
- Three prototypes.
- Type 88-I Reconnaissance Biplane
- Production reconnaissance biplane.
- Type 88-II Reconnaissance Biplane
- Improved version of the 88-I, 707 built of both the 88-I and 88-II.
- Type 88 Light Bomber
- Light bomber variant able to carry 200 kilograms (441 lb) of bombs, 407 built.
- KDC-2
- Transport variant, two built.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (88-II)
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 2238.
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Wingspan: 15.00 m (49 ft 2½ in)
- Gross weight: 2850 kg (6283 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI, 447 kW (600 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 km/h (137 mph)
Armament
- 2 x 7.7mm (0.303in) machine-gun (one fixed and one manual)
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 2237-8.
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