1 engine

Kawasaki Ki-3

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A single engined biplane light bomber, the Ki 3 was designed by Dr Richard Vogt. Developed from the experimental KDA 6 reconnaissance biplane, the Ki 3 first flew in March 1933, going into service with the Imperial Japanese Army early in 1934. These prototypes were followed by 200 series aircraft built by Kawasaki between January 1934 and March 1935, and a further 40 machines being manufactured under licence by Tachikawa.
The first prototype had a BMW VI in line engine with nose radiator and annular cowling, while series machines had more conventional chin radiators for their 800 hp Ha 2 engines (BMW IXs built under licence by Mitsubishi and Kawasaki). The Ki 3 carried up to 500 kg (1100 lb) of bombs on ten underwing racks. Defensive armament comprised one fixed forward firing synchronized 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine gun in the cowling and another on a Scarff type mounting over the observer’s cockpit.
The metal structured, fabric covered Ki 3 had a pointed spinner for its two bladed propeller, con¬toured single I type wing struts, and spatted main undercarriage wheels. It was also fitted with a tail wheel while most contemporaries had a tail skid.
Ki 3s served with the 3rd, 5th, 7th and 9th Army Hiko Daitai (air battalions) when hostilities between Japan and China were renewed in summer 1937. Heavily engaged in bombing attacks and troop support until replaced by monoplanes in 1939, they were subsequently widely employed for dropping supplies to isolated troop positions. A number were still in service at the time of the heavy air fighting between the Soviet Union and Japan at Nomonhan in summer 1939 but were used only in supporting roles.

Span: 13 m (42 ft 8 in)
Length: 10 m (32 ft 10 in)
Gross weight, 3100 kg (6830 lb)
Maximum speed: 260 km/h (162 mph)

Kawasaki KDA-5 / Type 92

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A designer of Kawasaki landplanes was German Dr. Richard Vogt, with the company 1923-1933. Vogt designed the Type 92 single-seat biplane fighter.
The first prototype flew in 1932. 380 built.

Type 92
Engine: 1 x BMW VI, 440kW
Max take-off weight: 1700 kg / 3748 lb
Empty weight: 1280 kg / 2822 lb
Wingspan: 9.6 m / 31 ft 6 in
Length: 7.2 m / 23 ft 7 in
Height: 3.1 m / 10 ft 2 in
Wing area: 24.0 sq.m / 258.33 sq ft
Max. Speed: 330 km/h / 205 mph
Cruise speed: 280 km/h / 174 mph
Ceiling: 9500 m / 31150 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 850 km / 528 miles
Range w/max.payload: 600 km / 373 miles
Crew: 1
Armament: 2 x 7.7mm machine-guns

Kawanishi N1K1-J / N1K2 Shiden-Kai

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N1K1-J

In 1941 Kawanishi was still designing the float-equipped N1K1, and Kawanishi undertook a wheel-landing gear version, designated the N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning). The prototype of the new fighter was flown on 27 December 1942 powered by the new 18-cylinder Nakajima Homare radial.

Kawanishi N1K1-J Article

Production got under way in 1943 of the N1K1-J with Homare 21 radial and an armament of two 7.7-mm nose guns and four 20-mm wing cannon (two of which were carried in underwing fairings). Despite being plagued by constant engine troubles and an inherently weak landing gear, the Shiden was an excellent aircraft in combat, proving an equal match for the Grumman F6F Hellcat. Given the reporting name ‘George’ by the Allies, three other main production versions were produced: the N1K1-Ja with nose guns deleted and all cannon mounted inside the wings; the N1K1-Jb with underwmg racks for two 250-kg bombs; and the N1K1-Jc with racks for four 250-kg bombs.

Kawanishi and Himeji combined to produce 1007 machines of this model, with one of three standard armaments: two 7.7, fuselage guns and four 20mm cannon (two in, two under, the wings) in the N1K1-J; the four cannon only in the –Ja; and four cannon within the wings of the –Jb. Later modifications included a ventral bomb attachment, and a few aircraft were experimentally equipped with a booster rocket.

Meanwhile the parent company had recast and simplified the original design, resulting in the N1K2-J Shiden-Kai (George 21) which possessed an extremely rapid climb rate and first class manoeuvrability. It employed only two-thirds as many constructional parts as the N1K1-J, reducing the all-up weight by nearly 500 lb, and differed considerably in appearance from its predecessor with improved landing gear and cleaner engine cowling. The latter’s mid-wing gave way to a low-mounted one, the fuselage was streamlined and extended, and the fin and rudder re-shaped.

Orders for a small prototype batch quickly materialised and the first flew on 31 December 1943.

N1K2-J

Despite the sharing of production among eight different assembly plants, B-29 raids on Japanese industry restricted the number of Shiden-Kais completed to 428. An instance occurred when a single Japanese pilot, Warrant Officer Konsuke Muto, fought off 12 Hellcats, shooting down four.

A total of 1,435 N1K Shiden landplane fighters were produced. A few N1K2-K two-seat trainers were completed.

N1K2-J
Engine: 1 x Nakajima NK9H “Homare 21”, 1990 hp / 1365kW
Wingspan: 12.0 m / 39 ft 4 in
Length: 9.35 m / 30 ft 8 in
Height: 3.96 m / 13 ft 0 in
Wing area: 23.5 sq.m / 252.95 sq ft
Max take-off weight: 4000-4860 kg / 8819 – 10715 lb
Empty weight: 2657 kg / 5858 lb
Max. Speed: 585 km/h / 364 mph at 1,370 ft
Cruise speed: 365 km/h / 227 mph
Service ceiling: 10760 m / 35300 ft
Range: 1700 km / 1056 miles
Crew: 1
Armament: 4 x 20mm cannon
Bombload: 2 x 550 lb

N1K2-J

Kawanishi N1K1 Kyofu

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Anticipation of a need for single-seat float-equipped interceptor seaplanes prompted the Japanese navy to initiate a development programme for such aircraft in 1940, the Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane adaptation of the famous Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero being intended as a stopgap until a purpose-designed aircraft could be introduced. This was to be the Kawanishi N1K Kyofu (mighty wind), whose design was started in September of that year.

Featuring a central float and twin wing-mounted stabilizing floats, the new prototype retained the same gun armament as the A6M2 but was powered by a 1089kW Kasei 14 radial engine driving two-blade contraprops in an attempt to counter the torque-induced swing on take-off. The wing-mounted floats were originally intended to be retractable but design problems led to these being fixed before the aircraft’s first flight. Persistent trouble with the contraprop gearbox resulted in a change to the Kasei 13 engine driving a single three blade propeller from the second prototype onwards.

First flown on 6 May 1942, the N1K1 went on to trials with the navy, although with tricky take-off characteristics, in the air, with its combat flaps, the Kyofu handled and manoeuvred well. The N1K1 Kyofu reached the Imperial Navy in August 1942. At a time (the end of 1942), the N1K1 was ordered into production, but the delivery rate was slow to accelerate and fortunes changed rapidly during 1943. By December 1942, with only 15 aircraft being completed each month and Japanese offensive initiative dwindling, it was decided to end production of the aircraft, and in March 1944 the last of 89 Kyofus was delivered to the service.

Codenamed ‘Rex’ by the Allies, the N1K1 was first deployed for the defence of Balikpapan in Borneo. In the final weeks of the war N1K1s flew alongside the ‘Rufes’ of the Otsu Kokutai from Lake Biwa in defence of central Honshu against the increasing American raids on Japan.

In 1941 Kawanishi was still engaged in design of the N1K1, and while their design was still in progress Kawanishi undertook a wheel-landing gear version, designated the N1K1-J Shiden (Violet Lightning).

N1K1
Engine: 1 x Mitsubishi MK4E “Kasei-15”, 1150kW / 1460 hp
Wingspan: 12 m / 39 ft 4 in
Length: 10.59 m / 34 ft 9 in
Height: 4.75 m / 15 ft 7 in
Wing area: 23.5 sq.m / 252.95 sq ft
Max take-off weight: 3500-3712 kg / 7716 – 8184 lb
Empty weight: 2752 kg / 6067 lb
Max. speed: 480 km/h / 298 mph at 18,680 ft
Cruise speed: 365 km/h / 227 mph
Ceiling: 10560 m / 34650 ft
Range w/max.fuel: 1650 km / 1025 miles
Crew: 1
Armament: 2 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 7.7mm machine-guns

Kawanishi E15K Shiun / Norm

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The first prototype flew on December 5, 1941.
The central float was jettisonable (in order to increase speed in case of being pursued by fighters), and the wing floats were retractable. In an event of jettisoning the main float, wing floats were to stay retracted during landing on water, and would then keep the plane afloat.
15 were built.

E15K1
Engine: 1 x Mitsubishi MK4S “Kasei-24”, 1390kW
Max take-off weight: 4100-4900 kg / 9039 – 10803 lb
Empty weight: 3165 kg / 6978 lb
Wingspan: 14 m / 45 ft 11 in
Length: 11.59 m / 38 ft 0 in
Height: 4.95 m / 16 ft 3 in
Wing area: 30 sq.m / 322.92 sq ft
Max. Speed: 460 km/h / 286 mph
Cruise speed: 290 km/h / 180 mph
Ceiling: 9830 m / 32250 ft
Range: 3320 km / 2063 miles
Crew: 2

Kawanishi E7K Alf / Navy Type 94

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In 1932 the Imperial Japanese Navy sought a replacement for the Navy Type 90-3 Reconnaissance Seaplane which had been built as the Kawanishi E5K. The resulting three-seat Kawanishi E7K1 was an equal-span biplane, powered by a 462kW HiroType91 engine. First flown on 6 February 1933, the prototype was handed over to the Japanese navy three months later for service trials, being flown in competition against the Aichi AB-6 developed to meet the same requirement. The E7K1 was ordered into production as the Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane in May 1934, entering service in early 1935. However, its Hiro engine was unreliable, and although late production E7K1s had a more powerful version of the Hiro 91, this offered no improvement.
During 1938 Kawanishi built an E7K2 prototype which, generally similar to the E7K1, replaced the Hiro engine with a Mitsubishi Zuisei 11 radial. Flown for the first time in August 1938, the E7K2 was ordered into production three months later under the designation Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 2, the original version then becoming the Navy Type 94 Reconnaissance Seaplane Model 1. Production of the E7K1 totalled 183 (57 built by Nippon), and of the E7K2 about 350 (some 60 built by Nippon).
As a type, the E7Ks saw extensive use from 1935 until the beginning of the Pacific war, when the E7K1s were relegated to second-line duties. The E7K2s continued in first-line service until 1943, and both versions were used in kamikaze operations in the closing stages of the war. When, in the second half of 1942, Allied code names were allocated to Japanese aircraft, the E7K2 became known as ‘Alf’.

Kauffmann No.4

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The Kauffmann No. 4 with its pointed wings and a 6-cylinder radial Anzani engine was displayed at the 1911-1912 “Salon”. It was designed and built by Paul Kauffmann (1893-1959), at the time only 18 years old. He had built his first airplane two years earlier, at the same time starting “Le Cerf-Volant”, a kite-flying magazine. He would continue in aviation, filing several patents, until wounded in action in 1915.

Span: 38’1″
Length: 24’11”
Empty weight: 616 lb