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 

Eight-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).