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/ Tachikawa Ki-54 & D.1 Glider
Tachikawa Ki-54 & D.1 Glider
The Tachikawa Ki-54 was a Japanese twin-engine advanced trainer used during World War II.
The Ki-54 was developed in response to an Imperial Japanese Army requirement for a twin-engine advanced trainer, principally for crew training.
The prototype first flew in summer 1940 and, on completing trials, entered production in 1941 as Army Type 1 Advanced Trainer Model A/Ki-54a.
The Ki-54a was soon followed by the Ki-54b as Army Type 1 Operations Trainer Model B and Ki-54c as Army Type 1 Transport Model C.
The Ki-54b and -c enjoyed successful careers until the end of the war.
A few captured aircraft were flown after the war by various users.
Variants
Ki-54a
Unarmed pilot trainer
Ki-54b
Armed crew trainer
Ki-54c
E
ight-passenger light transport, communications aircraft.
Civil designation Y-59.
Ki-54d
Maritime reconnaissance/ASW, carried 8x 60-kg (132-lb) depth charges
Ki-110
One prototype Ki-54c of all-wood construction, destroyed in US bombing attack
Ki-111
Projected fuel tanker
(None built)
Ki-114
Projected fuel tanker of all-wood construction
(None built)
D-1
In 1943, the Aviation Research Institute developed its engine free version of an amphibious glider known as the D-1.
On June 21, 1943, the D-1 was first flown in tow behind the Mitsubishi K3M.
Specifications
Ki-54c
Crew
2
Capacity
8
Length
11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
Wingspan
17.9 m (58 ft 9 in)
Height
3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
Wing area
40 m2 (430 sq ft)
Empty weight
2,954 kg (6,512 lb)
Gross weight
3,897 kg (8,591 lb)
Powerplant
2 × Hitachi Ha13a (Army Type 98 450hp Air Cooled Radial)
9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,
380 kW (510 hp) each for take-off
350 kW (470 hp) at 1,700 m (5,577 ft)
Propellers
2-bladed metal propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
375 km/h (233 mph, 202 kn)
Cruise speed
240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
Range
960 km (600 mi, 520 nmi)
Service ceiling
7,180 m (23,560 ft)
Wing loading
97.4 kg/m2 (19.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.195 kW/kg (0.119 hp/lb).
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