Kawasaki C-1

Designed to replace the JASDF's Curtiss C-46 Commando transport air-craft, the Kawasaki C-1 first flew on 12 November 1970 and was delivered from December 1974.

Power is provided by two 14,500 lb thrust Mitsubishi-produced Pratt & Whitney JT8-M-9 turbofan engines and it can carry 60 troops, 45 paratroops, 36 stretchers, or 26,235 lb (11,900 kg) of freight (including vehicles).

Inordinately expensive because of Japan's relative inexperience in creating this type of airplane, by law the C-1 could not be sold abroad. Production ceased after 31 were built for the Japanese military, by a con-sortium of companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki Heavy Indus-tries, Fuji Heavy Industries, Nihon, Shin Me-iwa and Sumitomo Precision - practically all the companies involved in Japanese air-craft production.

By 1981 the 31 production C-1s had been delivered, including several long-range aircraft with an additional 4,732 litre wing centre-section fuel tank.

Kawasaki has modified a single C-lA twin-jet tactical transport for use in the ECM training role. Serialled 78-1021, the aircraft was fitted with seven radomes. Featuring nose and tail radomes housing elements of the TRDI/Mitsubishi Electrics XJ/ALQ-5 ECM system, the C-1ECM completed trials with the JASDF’s Air Proving Wing in 1986, and is now in service with the Electronic Warfare Training Unit.

C-1
Engines: 2 x P+W JT80D-M-9A, 64.5kN
Wingspan: 30.6 m / 100 ft 5 in
Length: 29.0 m / 95 ft 2 in
Height: 10.0 m / 32 ft 10 in
Wing area: 120.5 sq.m / 1297.05 sq ft
Max take-off weight: 38600 kg / 85099 lb
Empty weight: 23700 kg / 52250 lb
Max. speed: 815 km/h / 506 mph
Cruise speed: 705 km/h / 438 mph
Ceiling: 12200 m / 40050 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 3300 km / 2051 miles
Range w/max.payload: 1300 km / 808 miles
Crew: 5
Passengers: 60

C-1ECM
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney JT8D-M-9 turbofan, 14,500 lb (6575 kgp) thrust.