| KDA-2 (Type 88) | |
|---|---|
| Role | Reconnaissance biplane and light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
| Designer | Richard Vogt[1] |
| First flight | 1927 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force |
| Produced | 1929-1932 |
| Number built | 1117 |
The Kawasaki KDA-2 was a Japanese single-engined biplane of the late 1920s designed by the German Richard Vogt working for Kawasaki. It was built in large numbers as both a reconnaissance aircraft and a light bomber for the Imperial Japanese Army, being used in combat over China and remaining in service until 1940.
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The KDA-2 was designed by Richard Vogt to meet a Japanese Army requirement for a reconnaissance biplane to replace the Salmson 2. 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 was of all-metal construction, with a stressed skin forward fuselage, had unequal-span wings and a slim angular fuselage, cross-axle tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a 447 kW (600 hp) 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 710 (including the three prototypes) had been built by both Kawasaki and Tachikawa (187 of the total).[2]
Between 1929 and 1932, a bomber version was built as the Type 88 Light Bomber, differing in having a strengthened lower wing and an additional pair of centre-section struts. Bomb racks were located under the fuselage and lower wings. A total of 407 were produced.[3] 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.[4]
Both reconnaissance and bomber versions saw action with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in Manchuria, and a few were still in service in 1937 during fighting at Shanghai.
Data from Japanese Aircraft 1910-1941 [5] The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. pp. 2238.
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
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