Mitsubishi Ki-57

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s. See below for synonyms.

Development

MC-20-II with a nickname Hakutsuru(white crane) of the China Airlines during the Sino-Japanese war.

In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of the Imperial Japanese Airways. In consequence a civil version was developed and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two 708 kW (950 hp) 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.^[1]

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 L4M1. After the last of the Ki-57s had been delivered production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful 805 kW (1,080 hp) 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 reporting name "Topsy".^[2]

Variants

• Ki-57-I Army Type 100 Transport Model 1: Powered by two 708 kW (950 hp) 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 Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• Ki-57-II Army Type 100 Transport Model 2:Powered by two 805 kW (1,080 hp) 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 Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• L4M1: A small number of Ki-57-Is were transferred for use by the Japanese navy as transports and were redesignated L4M1.

Operators

A wrecked Ki-57 on Honshu in late 1945

Wartime

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

MC-20's civil operators

• Imperial Japanese Airways (DAI NIPPON KOKU)
• Manchuria Aviation (in Manchria)
• TYUKA KOKU KAISYA (in China)
• Asahi Shimbun
• Osaka Mainichi Shimbun

Reorganized National Government of China

• One MC-20 used as presidential transport

 Second Philippine Republic

• One MC-20 used as presidential transport

Post-war

 China

• The last Ki-57 was used as a trainer and retired in 1952.

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Airways (till October 1945)^[3]

 Netherlands

• Captured aircraft, used by the KNIL.

Accidents and incidents

• On December 20, 1940, a DAI NIPPON KOKU's MC-20, registration J-BGON "MYO-KO", crashed into the Tokyo bay during CAB's test flight, killing all 13 on board including 8 CAB inspectors.
• On June 21, 1941, a Manchurian Air Transport MC-20, registration M-604, crashed into the Sea of Japan, killing all 18 on board.

Specifications (Ki-57-II)

Data from Japanese AIrcraft of the Pacific War^[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 4 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and radio operator)
• Capacity: 11 passengers
• Length: 16.10 m (52 ft 9⅞ in)
• Wingspan: 22.60 m (74 ft 1¾ in)
• Height: 4.86 m (15 ft 11⅜ in)
• Wing area: 70.08 m² (754.3 ft²)
• Empty weight: 5,585 kg (12,313 lb)
• Loaded weight: 8,173 kg (18,018 lb)
• Max. takeoff weight: 9,120 kg (20,106 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha-102 Zuisei 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 805 kW (1,080 hp)(at take-off) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 470 km/h (254 kn, 292 mph) at 5,800 m (19,000 ft)
• Range: 3,000 km (1,622 nmi, 1,865 mi)
• Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,250 ft)
• Wing loading: 116.6 kg/m² (23.9 lb/ft²)
  
• Climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft): 15 min 45 s

See also

Related development

• Mitsubishi Ki-21

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of Japan
• List of aircraft of Japan, World War II
• List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki-57.

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki-57.

• Classic Airplane Museum MC-20 Japanese
• JCAL MC-20 Japanese