Kokusai Ki-59

Ki-59
A Kokusai Ki-59 light personnel transport.
Role Light transport monoplane
Manufacturer Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo K.K
First flight 1941
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built 59
Variants Kokusai Ku-8

The Kokusai Ki-59 (一式輸送機 Isshiki-yusōki?) was an early 1940s light transport monoplane built by Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo K.K for the Imperial Japanese Army as a development of the Teradako-ken TK-3 which had first flown in 1938.

Development

The Teradako-ken TK-3 was a prototype eight-to-ten passenger light transport monoplane built by Nippon Koku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha as a short-range transport for civil use at the request of Imperial Japanese Airways to replace its aging fleet of Airspeed Envoys and Fokker Super Universals. The first of two prototypes flew in June 1938, but was unable to meet the required performance requirements and the project was cancelled. In 1939, the Imperial Japanese Army revived the project to meet its urgent requirement for a light transport and liaison aircraft and instructed Nippon to develop the design as the Ki-59[1].

The Ki-59 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear and conventional single vertical tail surfaces. It was powered by two 450 hp (336 kW) Hitachi Ha-13a radial engines and other modifications to the design were made to meet Army requirements. The Ki-59 was ordered into production in 1941 with the designation Army Type 1 Transport, and an additional 59 units were produced. After the start of World War II, the aircraft was given the Allied reporting name "Theresa." Despite the more powerful engines and modifications sponsored by the Japanese Army, the Ki-59 remained a poor performer and saw little service before being replaced by the more capable Tachikawa Ki-54[1]. A small number were transferred to Manchukuo National Airways.

Near the end of 1941 one Ki-59 was modified into a glider with the removal of the engines and the landing gear replaced by underfuselage skids. It was designated the Ku-8-I or Army Experimental Glider[2]. This was further developed as the Ku-8-II or Army Type 4 Large Transport Glider which became the only operationally-used Japanese assault glider. It was named 'Gander' by the Allies.

Variants

TK-3 
Prototype civil transport with two 640 hp (477 kW) Nakajima Kotobuki 3 radial engines, two built.
Ki-59 (Army Type 1 Transport) ("Theresa") 
Production military transport with two 450 hp (336 kW) Hitachi Ha-13a radial engines, 59 built.
Ku-8-I (Army Experimental Glider) 
Experimental conversion to glider configuration.
Ku-8-II (Army Type 4 Large Transport Glider) ("Gander") 
Assault-glider variant.

Operators

 Japan

Specifications (Ki-59)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 146.
  2. ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 147.
Bibliography
  • Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd.. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. 
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. 
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. pp. 2258. 
Aircraft produced by Kokusai
Powered aircraft

Ki-59 • Ki-76 • Ki-105
Gliders

Ku-7 • Ku-8
World War II Allied reporting names

Buzzard • Cypress • Gander • Goose • Stella • Theresa
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force aircraft designations
1-50

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
51-100

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
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
Aircraft in Japanese service

Abdul • Alf • Ann • Babs • Baka • Belle • Betty • Bob • Buzzard • Cedar • Cherry • Clara • Claude • Cypress • Dave • Dick • Dinah • Dot • Edna • Emily • Eva • Eve • Frances • Frank • Gander • George • Glen • Goose • Grace • Gwen • Hamp • Hank • Hap • Helen • Hickory • Ida (Tachikawa Ki-36) • Ida (Tachikawa Ki-55) • Irving • Jack • Jake • Jane • Jean • Jerry • Jill • Jim • Judy • Kate • Kate 61 • Laura • Lily • Liz • Lorna • Loise • Louise • Luke • Mabel • Mary • Mavis • Myrt • Nate • Nell • Nick • Norm • Oak • Oscar • Pat • Patsy • Paul • Peggy • Perry • Pete • Pine • Rex • Rita • Rob • Rufe • Ruth • Sally • Sally III • Sam • Sandy • Slim • Sonia • Spruce • Stella • Steve • Susie • Tabby • Tess • Thalia • Thelma • Theresa • Thora • Tina • Tillie • Toby • Tojo • Tony • Topsy • Val • Willow • Zeke • Zeke 32
Nonexistent aircraft thought to be in Japanese service

Adam • Ben • Doris • Gus • Harry • Ione • Joe • Joyce • Julia • June • Norma • Omar • Ray
Foreign aircraft erroneously thought to be in Japanese service

Bess (Heinkel He 111) • Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110) • Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190A-5) • Irene (Junkers Ju 87A) • Janice (Junkers Ju 88A-5) • Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109E) • Millie (Vultee V-11GB) • Trixie (Junkers Ju 52/3m) • Trudy (Focke Wulf Fw 200 Kondor)
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