Mitsubishi Ki-57

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Ki-57 "Topsy"
Type Transport aircraft
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited)
Designed by Mitsubishi Jukogyo KK Design Team
Maiden flight August 1940
Introduction 1942
Produced 1940-1945
Number built 406
Developed from Mitsubishi Ki-21

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft developed in the early 1940s.

Contents

[edit] Development

When in 1938 the Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of Japan Air Lines. In consequence a civil version was developed and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two 950 hp (708 kW) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines, differed primarily by having the same wings transferred from a mid to low-wing configuration and the incorporation of a new fuselage to provide accommodation for up to 11 passengers. This transport version appealed also the navy, and following the flight of a prototype in August 1940 and subsequent testing, the type was ordered into production for both civil and military use.

This initial production Ki-57-I had the civil and military designations of MC-20-I and Army Type 100 Transport Model 1 respectively. A total of 100 production Ki-57-Is had been built by early 1942, and small numbers of them were transferred for use by the Japanese navy in a transport role, then becoming redesignated L4Ml. After the last of the Ki-51s had been delivered production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful 1,080 hp (805 kW) Mitsubishi Ha-l02 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles and, at the same time, incorporated a number of detail refinements and minor equipment changes. Civil and military designations of this version were the MC-20-II and Army Type 100 Transport Model 2 respectively. Only 406 were built before production ended in January 1945. Both versions were covered by the Allied codename "Topsy".

[edit] Variants

  • Ki-57-I Army Type 100 Transport Model 1 - Powered by two 950 hp (708 kW) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines and a redesigned fuselage to accommodate 11 passengers. About 100 aircraft of this type were built including the civil version.
  • MC-20-I - Same as above but built for civil use with Japan Air Lines (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
  • Ki-57-II Army Type 100 Transport Model 2 - Powered by two 1,080 hp (805 kW) Mitsubishi Ha-l02 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles. Minor equipment and detail refinements were also incorporated. 306 aircraft of this type were produced before the end of production in January 1945.
  • MC-20-II - Same as above but built for civil use with Japan Air Lines (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
  • L4M1 - A small number of Ki-57-IIs were transferred for use by the Japanese navy as transports and were redesignated L4M1.

[edit] Operators

Flag of Japan Japan
Flag of the People's Republic of China China
  • The last Ki-57 was used as a trainer and retired in 1952.

[edit] Specifications (Ki-57-II)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and radio operator)
  • Capacity: 11 passengers
  • Length: 16.10 m (52 ft 9¾ in)
  • Wingspan: 22.60 m (74 ft 1¾ in)
  • Height: 4.85 m (15 ft 11 in)
  • Wing area: 70.08 m² (754.36 ft²)
  • Empty weight: 5,585 kg (12,313 lb)
  • Max takeoff weight: 9,120 kg (20,106 lb)
  • Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 805 kW (1,080 hp) each

Performance


[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

  • Francillon, René J. The Mitsubishi Ki-21 (Aircraft in Profile number 172). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
  • Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London, Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970. second edition 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.

[edit] See also

Related development

Related lists

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Japanese Army Aircraft Designation System

Ki-1 • Ki-2 • Ki-3 • Ki-4 • Ki-5 • Ki-6 • Ki-7 • Ki-8  • Ki-9  • Ki-10  • Ki-11  • Ki-12  • Ki-13  • Ki-14  • Ki-15  • Ki-16  • Ki-17  • Ki-18  • Ki-19 • Ki-20  • Ki-21  • Ki-22  • Ki-23  • Ki-24  • Ki-25  • Ki-26  • Ki-27  • Ki-28  • Ki-29  • Ki-30  • Ki-31  • Ki-32  • Ki-33  • Ki-34  • Ki-35  • Ki-36  • Ki-37  • Ki-38  • Ki-39  • Ki-40  • Ki-41  • Ki-42  • Ki-43  • Ki-44  • Ki-45  • Ki-46  • Ki-47  • Ki-48  • Ki-49  • Ki-50  • Ki-51  • Ki-52  • Ki-53  • Ki-54  • Ki-55  • Ki-56  • Ki-57  • Ki-58  • Ki-59  • Ki-60  • Ki-61  • Ki-62  • Ki-63  • Ki-64  • Ki-66  • Ki-67  • Ki-68  • Ki-69  • Ki-70  • Ki-71  • Ki-72  • Ki-73  • Ki-74  • Ki-75  • Ki-76  • Ki-77  • Ki-78  • Ki-79  • Ki-80  • Ki-81  • Ki-82  • Ki-83  • Ki-84  • Ki-85  • Ki-86  • Ki-87  • Ki-88  • Ki-89  • Ki-90  • Ki-91  • Ki-92  • Ki-93  • Ki-94  • Ki-95  • Ki-96  • Ki-97  • Ki-98  • Ki-99  • Ki-100  • Ki-101  • Ki-102  • Ki-103  • Ki-105  • Ki-106  • Ki-107  • Ki-108  • Ki-109  • Ki-110  • Ki-111  • Ki-112  • Ki-113  • Ki-114  • Ki-115  • Ki-116  • Ki-117  • Ki-118  • Ki-119  • Ki-148  • Ki-167  • Ki-174  • Ki-200  • Ki-201  • Ki-202 • Ki-230
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