| Ki-96 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Twin engine heavy fighter |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. |
| First flight | September 1943 |
| Number built | 3 |
| Developed from | Kawasaki Ki-45 |
| Developed into | Kawasaki Ki-102 |
The Kawasaki Ki-96 was a Japanese single seat, twin-engine heavy fighter of World War II. It was intended to replace the Kawasaki Ki-45s of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. However, it was not adopted and only three prototypes were built.
Design and development
The success of the Kawasaki Ki-45 led Kawasaki to start development of an evolved version, on Kawasaki's own authority, in August 1942. [1] Like the Ki-45, the proposed design was a two-seat, twin-engine fighter, but larger and using more powerful engines. In December 1942 the Koku Hombu ( Imperial Japanese Army Aviation Bureau) showed interest, but asked Kawasaki to complete the aircraft as single-seat fighters. [1] The first prototype, which was converted while being produced and which retained the larger cockpit canopy intended for the two-seater, flew in September 1943. The two remaining prototypes were built from the start as single-seaters and were fitted with a smaller canopy. [2]
Despite demonstrating performance exceeding estimates and excellent handling, the Army's requirements had changed back to a two-seat fighter, [3] so further development of the Ki-96 was stopped. The wings and tail unit of the Ki-96 would however form part of the structure of the Ki-102 two-seat fighter. [3] [4]
Specifications (Kawasaki Ki-96)
Data from War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters - Vol. 3; [5] WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 1; [4] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 11.45 m (37 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 15.57 m (51 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 34 m2 (370 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 24015; tip: NACA 23010 [6]
- Empty weight: 4,550 kg (10,031 lb)
- Gross weight: 6,000 kg (13,228 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha112-II 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 1,125 kW (1,509 hp) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 600 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
- Ferry range: 1,600 km (990 mi, 860 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft)
- Time to altitude: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 6 minutes
- Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × 37 mm (1.46 in) Ho-203 cannon, 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Ho-5 cannon.
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
- ^ a b Green & Swanborough 1976, p. 37.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 127.
- ^ a b c Francillon 1979, p. 128.
- ^ a b Green & Swanborough 1976, p. 38.
- ^ Green 1961, p. 28.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. OCLC 6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, ISBN 0-85177-801-1.)
- Green, William (1961). War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. Macdonald & Co. ISBN 0-356-01447-9. OCLC 655407936.
- Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1976). JWW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 1. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08224-5. OCLC 820486093.
External links
| Ki-96 | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Role | Twin engine heavy fighter |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. |
| First flight | September 1943 |
| Number built | 3 |
| Developed from | Kawasaki Ki-45 |
| Developed into | Kawasaki Ki-102 |
The Kawasaki Ki-96 was a Japanese single seat, twin-engine heavy fighter of World War II. It was intended to replace the Kawasaki Ki-45s of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service. However, it was not adopted and only three prototypes were built.
Design and development
The success of the Kawasaki Ki-45 led Kawasaki to start development of an evolved version, on Kawasaki's own authority, in August 1942. [1] Like the Ki-45, the proposed design was a two-seat, twin-engine fighter, but larger and using more powerful engines. In December 1942 the Koku Hombu ( Imperial Japanese Army Aviation Bureau) showed interest, but asked Kawasaki to complete the aircraft as single-seat fighters. [1] The first prototype, which was converted while being produced and which retained the larger cockpit canopy intended for the two-seater, flew in September 1943. The two remaining prototypes were built from the start as single-seaters and were fitted with a smaller canopy. [2]
Despite demonstrating performance exceeding estimates and excellent handling, the Army's requirements had changed back to a two-seat fighter, [3] so further development of the Ki-96 was stopped. The wings and tail unit of the Ki-96 would however form part of the structure of the Ki-102 two-seat fighter. [3] [4]
Specifications (Kawasaki Ki-96)
Data from War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters - Vol. 3; [5] WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 1; [4] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 11.45 m (37 ft 7 in)
- Wingspan: 15.57 m (51 ft 1 in)
- Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 34 m2 (370 sq ft)
- Airfoil: root: NACA 24015; tip: NACA 23010 [6]
- Empty weight: 4,550 kg (10,031 lb)
- Gross weight: 6,000 kg (13,228 lb)
- Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha112-II 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 1,125 kW (1,509 hp) each
- Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 600 km/h (370 mph, 320 kn) at 6,000 m (20,000 ft)
- Ferry range: 1,600 km (990 mi, 860 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 11,500 m (37,700 ft)
- Time to altitude: 6,000 m (20,000 ft) in 6 minutes
- Power/mass: 0.38 kW/kg (0.23 hp/lb)
Armament
- Guns: 1 × 37 mm (1.46 in) Ho-203 cannon, 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Ho-5 cannon.
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
- ^ a b Green & Swanborough 1976, p. 37.
- ^ Francillon 1979, p. 127.
- ^ a b c Francillon 1979, p. 128.
- ^ a b Green & Swanborough 1976, p. 38.
- ^ Green 1961, p. 28.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2019-04-16.
Bibliography
- Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. OCLC 6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, ISBN 0-85177-801-1.)
- Green, William (1961). War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. Macdonald & Co. ISBN 0-356-01447-9. OCLC 655407936.
- Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1976). JWW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 1. London: Macdonald and Jane's. ISBN 0-356-08224-5. OCLC 820486093.
External links