The Tachikawa Ki-70 “Clara” was a high speed photo reconnaissance aircraft that was tested for the Japanese Air Force in prototype form but never entered production.
The Ki-70 was the intended successor to the Mitsubishi Ki-46 but was difficult to handle and was slower than the Mitsubishi Ki-46.
The Ki-70 was first flown in 1943 but was found unsatisfactory and the program was terminated.
3 Prototypes built.
Using the familiar layout of aircraft such as the Mitsubishi G3M bomber and its planned predecessor the Mitsubishi Ki-46, the Ki-70 had a twin tail and narrow fuselage, an extensively glazed nose and second cockpit facing aft for the gunner.
In later years the Ki-70 was used to disprove supposed photographic evidence concerning Amelia Earhart’s supposed capture by the Japanese before World War II.
Specifications
Crew
3
Length
14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
Wingspan
17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
Height
3.46 m (11 ft 4 in)
Wing area
43 m2 (460 sq ft)
Empty weight
5,895 kg (12,996 lb)
Gross weight
9,855 kg (21,727 lb)
Max take-off weight
10,700 kg (23,589 lb)
Powerplant
2 × Mitsubishi Ha-104M (Army Type 4 1,900hp Air Cooled Radial)
18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,
1,400 kW (1,900 hp) each for take-off
1,350 kW (1,810 hp) at 2,200 m (7,218 ft)
1,201 kW (1,610 hp) at 6,100 m (20,013 ft)
Propellers
4-bladed constant-speed metal propellers
Performance
Maximum speed
647 km/h (402 mph, 349 kn) at 5,400 m (17,717 ft)
Cruise speed
490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at 5,400 m (17,717 ft)
Range
2,480 km (1,540 mi, 1,340 nmi)
Service ceiling
11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Time to altitude
5,000 m (16,404 ft) in 5 minutes
Wing loading
229.2 kg/m2 (46.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass
0.2884 kW/kg (0.1754 hp/lb)
Armament
Guns
1x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) MG, 1x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) MG.
