Kawasaki C-1

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The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engined short-range military transport, used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF). Development began in 1966 as the JASDF sought to replace its aging World War II–era C-46 Commandos. Production commenced in 1971, remaining in service, as of 2011.

Development

In 1966, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force transport fleet was composed primarily of Curtiss C-46 Commandos, a retired midwar American design built in large numbers before the end of World War II. While relatively capable for its time, the C-46 did not fare well in comparison to newer aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and the JASDF therefore elected to replace it with a domestically-designed and -manufactured transport aircraft.

For this purpose, they turned to the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation, a consortium of several major corporations, which had begun to produce commercially its YS-11 airliner four years earlier. NAMC decided that Kawasaki Heavy Industries was to be the prime contractor, and the airplane thus bears that company's name. The aircraft has been used as military transport for the JASDF since its maiden flight in November 1970.

Japanese policies at the time on military equipment were strict in that they were not to have offensive capabilities, and so the maximum range was cut in order to keep the aircraft's operational range inside Japan. This proved to be a problem after Okinawa was returned to Japan from the US, and the aircraft had trouble reaching the island from distant areas. Thus production was reduced and the C-130 was introduced.

Operational history

The Kawasaki C-1 has been in use since 1974 but will be replaced by the Kawasaki C-2, which has a longer range. The first of twenty C-2s is expected to be delivered in 2014.^[2]

Variants

The EC-1 at Iruma (2011).

XC-1: Prototypes.
C-1/C-1A: Medium-range military transport version.

The last five C-1s ordered were fitted with an additional 4,730 litre fuel tank.

EC-1: EW training aircraft.
C-1FTB: Flight test bed used for testing various equipment.
Asuka/QSTOL: Quiet STOL research aircraft, developed by the National Aerospace Laboratory.

Powered by four FRJ710 turbofan engines and making use of the Coandă effect. It was built to research STOL using upper surface blowing, aircraft noise reduction, fly-by-wire systems and composite materials construction. The only example built is currently on display in Kakamigahara Museum in Gifu, Japan.

Note: Three C-1s were allocated to the MSDF as airborne minelayers under the Fourth Defense Buildup Plan (1972–76). It is unknown what designation was given to them, or indeed whether they were ever actually delivered.

Operators

Japan

Japan Air Self-Defense Force

Specifications (Kawasaki C-1)

Internal cargo cabin view

Paratroopers

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77 ^[3]

General characteristics

Crew: Five (pilot, copilot, navigator, flight engineer, loadmaster)
Capacity: 60 soldiers, 45 paratroopers, 36 patients with medics, or cargo
Length: 29.00 m (95 ft 1¾ in)
Wingspan: 30.60 m (100 ft 4¾ in)
Height: 9.99 m (32 ft 9¼ in)
Wing area: 120.5 m² (1,297 ft²)
Empty weight: 23,320 kg (53,410 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 38,700 kg (85,320 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi-built Pratt & Whitney JT8D-M-9 turbofan, 64.5 kN (14500 lbf) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 806 km/h (435 knots, 501 mph) at 7,620 m (25,000 ft) at 35,450 kg (78,150 lb) AUW
Cruise speed: 657 km/h (354 knots, 408 mph) at 10,670 m(35,000 ft) at 35,450 kg AUW
Range: 1,300 km (700 nmi, 806 mi)(max payload)
Service ceiling: 11,600 m (38,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 17.8 m/s (3,500 ft/min)

References

↑ Taylor 1976, p.124.
↑ "Japanese AF Calls For Speedy C-2 Deliveries | AVIATION WEEK". 8 August 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-08.
↑ Taylor 1976, pp. 124—125.

Taylor, John W.R. (editor). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976–77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976, ISBN 0-354-00538-3.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawasaki C-1.

v t e Aircraft produced by Kawasaki

Company designations	Type 87 Type 88 Type 92 KAL-1 KAL-2 KAT-1 KAQ-1 KDA-2 KDA-3 KDA-5 KH-4 YPX

Imperial Japanese Army short designations	Ki-3 Ki-5 Ki-10 Ki-22 Ki-28 Ki-32 Ki-38 Ki-45 Ki-48 Ki-56 Ki-60 Ki-61 Ki-64 Ki-66 Ki-78 Ki-81 Ki-85 Ki-88 Ki-89 Ki-91 Ki-96 Ki-100 Ki-102 Ki-108 Ki-119 Ki-148 Ki-174

Japanese Self-Defense Force designations	C-1 C-2 OH-1 P-1 P-2J T-4

Joint ventures	BK 117 BK 117-C2

Licenced production	Bell 47 Hughes 500 Hughes 369 Boeing-Vertol V-107 Boeing-Vertol CH-47 Lockheed T-33 Lockheed P-2 Lockheed P-3C

World War II Allied reporting names	Bob Lily Mary Nick Perry Randy Rob Thalia Tony

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