Nakajima Ki-87

Nakajima Ki-87
Role High-altitude fighter-interceptor
Manufacturer Nakajima Aircraft Company
Designer Kunihiro Aoki
First flight April 1945
Status Prototype
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built 1


The Nakajima Ki-87 was a Japanese high-altitude fighter-interceptor of World War II. It was a single seat, exhaust-driven turbo-supercharged engined, low-wing monoplane with a conventional undercarriage.

Design and development

The Ki-87 was developed in response to American B-29 Superfortress raids on the Home Islands. It followed up on earlier research by Nakajima and the Technical Division of Imperial Army Headquarters into boosting a large radial engine with an exhaust-driven turbo-supercharger, which had begun in 1942, well before the B-29 raids began.[1] The efforts of the Technical Division of Imperial Army Headquarters eventually culminated into the Tachikawa Ki-94-I, while the Ki-87 was developed as a fall-back project, using less stringent requirements.[2][3] Nakajima started in July 1943 with the construction of three prototypes, to be completed between November 1944 and January 1945, and seven pre-production aircraft, to be delivered by April 1945.[3] The Technical Division of Imperial Army Headquarters made itself felt during the development of the Ki-87 prototype when they insisted upon placing the turbo-supercharger in the rear-fuselage, and from the sixth prototype the Nakajima fighter was to have that arrangement.[4][5] The Ki-87 had a rearward folding undercarriage to accommodate the storage of ammunition for the wing-mounted cannon in the wing. [1][6]

Construction was delayed due to problems with the electrical undercarriage and the turbo-supercharger, and the first prototype was not completed until February 1945; it first flew in April, but only five test flights were completed, all with the undercarriage in the extended position.[6][7]

A further variant, the Ki-87-II, powered by a 3,000 hp Nakajima Ha217 (Ha-46) engine and with the turbo-supercharger in the same position as the P-47 Thunderbolt, never went further than the drawing board.

Operational history

Production of 500 aircraft was planned, but the war ended before any more than the single prototype were built.

Aircraft markings

The sole completed prototype was in natural metal finish; some paintings show a black anti-glare area in front of the cockpit, but this is not seen on any of the known photographs of the plane.[1][8][9]

Specifications (Ki-87 prototype)

Another photograph of the first Ki-87 prototype, showing to advantage the turbo supercharger.

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War;[6] Japanese Army Fighters, Part 2;[7] Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1)[10]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Green 1973, p. 90.
  2. ↑ Francillon 1979, p. 238 and 265.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Green and Swanborough 1977, p. 62.
  4. ↑ Green and Swanborough 1977, p. 63.
  5. ↑ Francillon 1979, p. 239.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Francillon 1979, p. 240.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Green and Swanborough 1977, p. 64.
  8. ↑ FAOW 1976, pp. 59–61 and front cover.
  9. ↑ Green and Swanborough 1977, pp. 62–64.
  10. ↑ FAOW 1976, p. 67.
Bibliography
  • Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London, Putnam & Company, 1970 (Second edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald, 1961 (Seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
  • Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, part 2. London, Macdonald & Jane's, 1977. ISBN 0-354-01068-9.
  • Unknown Author Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1). Japan: Bunrin-Do Co. Ltd., August 1976.

External links

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