Kawasaki Ki-5
| Ki-5 | |
|---|---|
| Role | Experimental Fighter Aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. |
| First flight | February 1934 |
| Primary user | IJA Air Force |
| Produced | 4 |
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The Kawasaki Ki-5 (川崎 キ5 Ki-go) was an experimental low-wing monoplane fighter aircraft designed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. It first flew in February 1934, but was never produced for actual use. It was the last Japanese design led by Richard Vogt before he returned to Germany.
Design & Development
The Ki-5 was initially produced by Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. in response to Japanese army specifications for a high-performance fighter to replace the existing Type 92.[1] It was the first all-metal, cantilever monoplane fighter aircraft to be built in Japan. It was designed around the Kawasaki Ha-9, a Japanese development of the BMW IX aircraft engine,[1] itself a development from the BMW VII A 7.3 liquid-cooled engine, with a nominal rating of 634 kW (850 hp). It also had the innovation of using an inverted gull wing design, to improve downward visibility for the pilot and to be able to use a simple, short undercarriage.[1]
However, the Ki-5 design quickly proved unsatisfactory in flight testing.[1] Test pilots complained of stability and handling problems, and the engine was never able to produce enough power for the Ki-5 to attain its design speed parameter of 380 km/h (240 mph).
The project was cancelled on 9 September 1934,[2] after a total of four units were produced. However, the design effort on the Ki-4 later paid off dividends with the designs for the future Ki-28, Ki-60 and Ki-61.
Operators
Specifications
Data from Famous Aircraft of the World, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1)[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 7.78 m (25.54 ft)
- Wingspan: 10.60 m (34.78 ft)
- Height: 2.60 m (8.53 ft)
- Wing area: 18 m² (193.75 ft²)
- Empty weight: 1,500 kg (3,300 lb)
- Loaded weight: 1,870 kg (4,122 lb)
- Useful load: 370 kg (822 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × Kawasaki Ha-9 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled piston V12 engine, 634 kW (850 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 360 km/h at 2,400 m (240 mph at 7,874 ft)
- Range: 1,000 km (621 mi)
- Service ceiling: 9,400 m (30,840 ft)
- Wing loading: 103.9 kg/m² (21.27 lb/ft²)
- Power/mass: 0.35 kW/kg (0.45 hp/kg; 0.21 hp/lb)
- Time to altitude: 8.0 min to 5,000 metres (16,000 ft)
Armament
- Guns: 2× 7.7 mm (.303 in) machine guns
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- Notes
- 1 2 3 4 Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 155.
- ↑ Mikesh and Abe 1990, p. 156.
- ↑ FAOW 1976, p. 2.
- Bibliography
- Mikesh, Robert C.; Shorzoe Abe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2.
- Unknown Author(s). Famous Aircraft of the World, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1). Tokyo, Japan: Bunrin-Do Co. Ltd., August 1976.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawasaki aircraft. |
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