Ki-94
The first prototype of the Ki-94-II under construction
Role Interceptor
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd
Designer Tatsuo Hasegawa
Retired 1945
Status Prototype
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Produced 2

The Tachikawa Ki-94 was a single-seat fighter-Interceptor aircraft project undertaken by the Tachikawa Aircraft Company and to be operated by the Imperial Japanese Army. The project refers to two aircraft designs: the Ki-94-I and the Ki-94-II, both of which did not advance beyond the mock-up and prototype stage respectively.

Design and development

Ki-94-I

A full-scale wooden mock-up of the Ki-94-I.

The first was a twin-boom monoplane with two 1,641 kW (2,201 hp) Mitsubishi Ha211 18-cylinder engines, driving two 4-blade propellers in a push-pull configuration. The very heavy armament planned for the aircraft (two 37 mm/1.46 in and two 30 mm/1.18 in cannon,[1] should have been enough to make short work of most US heavy bombers of the era. Notwithstanding the outstanding prospective performance, which however was judged as "unduly optimistic" by the technical department of the Japanese Army Air Force, this design was judged too complex by the technical department and the design was discarded.

Ki-94-II

The second Ki-94 design, made by a team also under Tatsuo Hasegawa as type I, chief designer of the aircraft and responsible for the used airfoil, was a more conventional single-seat, piston-engine monoplane fighter, developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force along the same requirements as the Nakajima Ki-87, which had been the Army's fall-back design for the original Ki-94.[1] Intended to counter B-29 raids, it was optimized for high-altitude interception with a pressurized cockpit and heavy armament.

This design was approved by the Koku Hombu, and the aircraft was designated Ki-94-II (the scrapped earlier Ki-94 design was named the Ki-94-I). An order was placed for one static test airframe, three prototypes, and eighteen pre-production aircraft. Only 2 prototypes were built in the event; the first was equipped with a single 1,895 kW (2,541 hp) Nakajima Ha219 [Ha-44] engine, driving a 4-blade propeller because the 6-blade one was not ready.[2] The second prototype was to be fitted with a 6-blade propeller. The war's end however stopped the construction of the second prototype and also found the first prototype still being readied for its maiden flight, the Ki-94-II never taking to the air.

Specifications (Ki-94-II (estimated performance))

Data from Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1),[3] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[2]

General characteristics

1,750 kW (2,350 hp) at 1,100 m (3,600 ft)
1,600 kW (2,200 hp) at 4,400 m (14,400 ft)
1,520 kW (2,040 hp) at 11,000 m (36,000 ft)

Performance

10,000 m (33,000 ft) in 17 minutes 38 seconds
13,000 m (43,000 ft) in 21 minutes 3 seconds

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 265.
  2. ^ a b Francillon 1979, p. 267.
  3. ^ FAOW 1976, p. 67
  4. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography

  • Francillon, René J, Ph.D (1979), Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War (2 ed.), London: Putnam & Co, ISBN 0-370-30251-6((citation)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link). First edition from 1970 ISBN 0-370-00033-1
  • Green, William (1973) [1961], War Planes of the Second World War, vol. 3. Fighters (7th impr ed.), London: Macdonald, ISBN 0-356-01447-9
  • Famous Aircraft of the World, 1st, vol. 1. Japanese Army Experimental Fighters, Japan: Bunrin-Do Co, August 1976

External links

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