The Tachikawa Ki-74 was a Japanese experimental long-range reconnaissance bomber of World War II. A twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, it was developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force but did not enter service.
Development
Though already conceived in 1939[4] as a long-range reconnaissance aircraft capable of reaching west of Lake Baikal when operating from bases in Manchukuo (Manchuria), the prototype Ki-74 (designated as A-26 by Tachikawa) only first flew as late as in March 1944; it was powered by two 1,641 kW (2,201 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-211-I [Ha-43-I] radial engines. The following two prototypes were powered by the turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-211-I Ru [Ha-43-II], but as these experienced teething troubles, the following thirteen pre-production machines substituted the Ha-211 Ru engine for the lower powered, but more reliable, turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-104 Ru (Army Type 4 1,900hp Air Cooled Radial).[5]
Operational history
The Ki-74 did not see operational service. Nevertheless, the Allies knew of its existence and assigned the type the codename "Patsy" after it was discovered that is was a bomber, not a fighter. Previously it had the code name "Pat" in Allied Intelligence.[6]
Specifications (Ki-74)
Data from The Imperial Japanese Secret Weapons Museum ;[7] Japanese AIrcraft of the Pacific War[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Capacity: 9,200 kg (20,300 lb)
- Length: 17.65 m (57 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 18.6 m (61 ft 0 in)
- Height: 5.1 m (16 ft 9 in)
- Wing area: 80 m2 (860 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 10,200 kg (22,487 lb)
- Gross weight: 19,400 kg (42,770 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha104 Ru turbo-supercharged 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,500 kW (2,000 hp) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 570 km/h (354 mph; 308 kn)
- Cruising speed: 400 km/h (249 mph; 216 kn)
- Range: 8,000 km (4,971 mi; 4,320 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,370 ft)
- Wing loading: 242.5 kg/m2 (49.7 lb/sq ft)
- Power/mass: 0.154 kW/kg (0.093 hp/lb; 0.206 hp/kg)
Armament
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
External links
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force aircraft designations |
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| 51-100 | |
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| Aircraft in Japanese service | |
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| Nonexistent aircraft thought to be in Japanese service |
- Adam
- Ben
- Doris
- Gus
- Harry
- Ione
- Joe
- Joyce
- Julia
- June
- Norma
- Omar
- Ray
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| 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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| General | |
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| Military | |
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