Japan's Tachikawa Ki-36 army cooperation, Army Type 98; Tachikawa Ki-55 trainer, Army Type 99;
Allied code name: Ida
Photos
Tachikawa Ki-36 army cooperation, "Ida": |
Tachikawa Ki-36 army cooperation, "Ida": |
Design
The Tachikawa Ki-36 was designed to meet a 1937 Imperial Japanese Army specification for a single engined army cooperation airplane that could operate from rough airfields near the front lines.1
Visibility
The Ki-36 had excellent visibility as it had the leading edges of the wings swept back and there were windows under the wings center section.1
Trainer
The Tachikawa Ki-55 was basically the Ki-36 with less operational equipment.1
Prototype
The Ki-36 prototype first flew on April 20, 1938.1 It was discovered there was a propensity for wingtip stalls, but this was cured by fitting leading edge slots in the wings.1
The Ki-55 prototype first flew in September 1939.1
Production
Deliveries of the Ki-36 started in November 1938.1 Production ended in January 1944.1
Deliveries of the Ki-55 ended in December 1943.1
- Ki-36: 1,3341
- Ki-55: 1,3891
- Total: 2,7231
- Produced by: Tachikawa (1,940)1, Kawasaki (783)1
Variants
- Ki-36: Army cooperation.1
- Ki-55: Advanced trainer.1
Usage
Japan and Thailand used the Ki-36.1 Cochin China, Japan, Manchuria, and Thailand used the Ki-55.1
China
The Ki-36 was deployed to China for active service.1
Secondary Roles
In 1943 the Ki-36 was very vulnerable to Allied fighters and was withdrawn to secondary areas.1
Standard Advanced Trainer
The Ki-55 became the Imperial Japanese Army's standard advanced trainer.1
Suicide Aircraft
Both the Ki-36 and Ki-55 would be equipped with bombs under the fuselage and used as suicide aircraft.1
Post World War II
Three Ki-55s were found abandoned on Java and were used in the Indonesian Air Force against the Dutch.1
Specifications
| Tachikawa Ki-361 | Tachikawa Ki-551 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Army cooperation1 | Trainer1 |
| Crew | 21 | 21 |
| Engine (Type) | Hitachi Ha-13a1 | Hitachi Ha-13a1 |
| Cylinders | Radial 91 | Radial 91 |
| Cooling | ||
| Net HP | 5101 | 5101 |
| Propeller blades | 21 | 21 |
| Dimensions | ||
| Span | 38' 8.5"1 11.8 m1 |
38' 8.5"1 11.8 m1 |
| Length | 26' 3"1 8 m1 |
26' 3"1 8 m1 |
| Height | 11' 11.25"1 3.64 m1 |
11' 11.25"1 3.64 m1 |
| Wing area | ||
| Weight | ||
| Empty | 2,749 lb1 1,247 kg1 |
2,848 lb1 1,292 kg1 |
| Loaded | 3,660 lb1 1,660 kg1 |
3,794 lb1 1,721 kg1 |
| Performance | ||
| Speed | 216 mph1 347 kph1 |
217 mph1 349 kph1 |
| Cruising speed | 147 mph1 236 kph1 |
146 mph1 235 kph1 |
| Climb to 9,840' / 3,000 m |
6.7 minutes1 | 6.7 minutes1 |
| Service ceiling | 26,740'1 8,150 m1 |
26,900'1 8,200 m1 |
| Range | 767 miles1 1,234 km1 |
659 miles1 1,060 km1 |
| Armament | ||
| Nose | 1: 7.7 mm MG1 | 1: 7.7 mm MG1 |
| Rear cockpit | 1: 7.7 mm MG1 | |
| Bombs | 10: 28 lb1 10: 13 kg1 |
|
| OR | 10: 33 lb1 10: 15 kg1 |
|
| Suicide mission | 1: 551 lb1 1: 250 kg1 |
1: 551 lb1 1: 250 kg1 |
| OR | 1: 1,102 lb1 1: 500 kg1 |
1: 1,102 lb1 1: 500 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
