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{{Short description|Japanese fighter/interceptor prototype}}
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
|name = Ki-94
|image =
|name=Ki-94
|image=File:Ki-94II-1s.jpg
|caption =
⚫
|caption=The first prototype of the Ki-94-II under construction
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type
}}{{Infobox aircraft type
|type = [[Interceptor aircraft|Interceptor]]
|type=[[Interceptor aircraft|Interceptor]]
|manufacturer = [[Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd]]
|manufacturer=[[Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd]]
|national origin = Japan
|national origin=Japan
|designer = [[Tatsuo Hasegawa]]
|designer=[[Tatsuo Hasegawa]]
|first flight =
|first flight=
|introduced =
|introduced=
|retired = [[1945 in aviation|1945]]
|retired=[[1945 in aviation|1945]]
|status = [[Prototype]]
|primary user = [[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service]]
|status=[[Prototype]]
|primary user=[[Imperial Japanese Army Air Service]]
|more users =
|more users=
|produced = 2
|produced=2
|number built =
|number built=
|unit cost =
|unit cost=
|variants with their own articles =
|variants with their own articles=
|developed into =
|developed into=
}}
}}
|}
|}


The '''Tachikawa Ki-94''' was a single-seat [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]-[[Interceptor aircraft|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.
The '''Tachikawa Ki-94''' was a single-seat [[Fighter aircraft|fighter]]-[[Interceptor aircraft|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==
==Design and development==
===Ki-94-I===
===Ki-94-I===
[[File:Ki-94I-4.jpg|thumb|A full-scale wooden mock-up of the Ki-94-I.]]
[[File:Ki-94I-4.jpg|thumb|A full-scale wooden mock-up of the Ki-94-I.]]
The first was a twin-boom [[monoplane]] with two {{convert|1,641|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Mitsubishi Ha211]] 18-cylinder engines, driving two 4-blade propellers in a [[push-pull configuration]]. The very heavy armament that should have been mounted on the aircraft (two 37&nbsp;mm/1.46&nbsp;in and two 30&nbsp;mm/1.18&nbsp;in [[Autocannon|cannon]],<ref name="Francillon1979p265">{{Harvnb|Francillon| 1979| p= 265}}.</ref> should have been enough to make short work of most US [[heavy bomber]]s 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.
The first was a twin-boom [[monoplane]] with two {{cvt|1,641|kW}} [[Mitsubishi Ha211]] 18-cylinder engines, driving two 4-blade propellers in a [[push-pull configuration]]. The very heavy armament planned for the aircraft (two {{cvt|37|mm|2}} and two {{cvt|30|mm|2}} [[Autocannon|cannon]],<ref name="Francillon1979p265">{{Harvnb|Francillon| 1979| p= 265}}.</ref> should have been enough to make short work of most US [[heavy bomber]]s 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===
===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 aircraft|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.<ref name="Francillon1979p265" /> Intended to counter [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29]] raids, it was optimized for high-altitude [[Interceptor aircraft|interception]] with a [[Cabin pressurization|pressurized]] [[cockpit]] and heavy armament.
⚫
[[File:Ki-94II-1s.jpg|thumb|The first prototype of the Ki-94-II under construction.]]
⚫
The second Ki-94 design, made by a team under [[Tatsuo Hasegawa]], chief designer of the aircraft and responsible for the used [[airfoil]], was a more conventional single-seat, piston-engine monoplane [[Fighter aircraft|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.<ref name="Francillon1979p265" /> Intended to counter [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress|B-29]] raids, it was optimized for high-altitude [[Interceptor aircraft|interception]] with a [[Cabin pressurization|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 {{convert |1,895|kW|hp|abbr=on}} [[Nakajima Ha219]] [Ha-44] engine, driving a 4-blade propeller because the 6-blade one was not ready.<ref name="Francillon1979p267"/> 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.
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 {{cvt|1,895|kW}} [[Nakajima Ha219]] [Ha-44] engine, driving a 4-blade propeller because the 6-blade one was not ready.<ref name="Francillon1979p267"/> 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))==
==Specifications (Ki-94-II (estimated performance))==
{{Aircraft specs
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1)<ref>{{Harvnb|FAOW|1976|p=67.}}</ref>, Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War<ref name="Francillon1979p267">{{Harvnb|Francillon|1979|p=267.}}</ref>
|ref=Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1),<ref>{{Harvnb|FAOW|1976|p=67}}</ref> Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War<ref name="Francillon1979p267">{{Harvnb|Francillon|1979|p=267.}}</ref>
|prime units?=met
|prime units?=met
<!--
<!--
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|wing area note=
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-8454 (17%) ; '''tip:''' (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-7s505 (10%)<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |accessdate=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|airfoil='''root:''' (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-8454 (17%) ; '''tip:''' (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-7s505 (10%)<ref name="Selig">{{cite web|last1=Lednicer|first1=David|title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage|url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html|website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu|access-date=2019-04-16}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=4690
|empty weight kg=4690
|empty weight note=
|empty weight note=
Line 74: Line 73:
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
|eng1 note=for take-off
|eng1 note=for take-off
::::{{cvt|2350|hp|0|order=flip}} at {{cvt|1100|m|0}}
::::{{cvt|2350|hp|order=flip}} at {{cvt|1100|m}}
::::{{cvt|2200|hp|0|order=flip}} at {{cvt|4400|m|0}}
::::{{cvt|2200|hp|order=flip}} at {{cvt|4400|m}}
::::{{cvt|2040|hp|0|order=flip}} at {{cvt|11000|m|0}}
::::{{cvt|2040|hp|order=flip}} at {{cvt|11000|m}}


|prop blade number=4
|prop blade number=4
Line 106: Line 105:
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate note=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|m|0}} in 5 minutes 9 seconds
|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|m}} in 5 minutes 9 seconds
::::{{cvt|10000|m|0}} in 17 minutes 38 seconds
::::{{cvt|10000|m}} in 17 minutes 38 seconds
::::{{cvt|13000|m|0}} in 21 minutes 3 seconds
::::{{cvt|13000|m}} in 21 minutes 3 seconds
|wing loading kg/m2=230.4
|wing loading kg/m2=230.4
|wing loading note=
|wing loading note=
Line 118: Line 117:
-->
-->
|guns= 2 × {{cvt|30|mm|3}} [[Ho-155 cannon]] and 2 × {{cvt|20|mm|3}} [[Ho-5 cannon]] both in the wings,
|guns= 2 × {{cvt|30|mm|3}} [[Ho-155 cannon]] and 2 × {{cvt|20|mm|3}} [[Ho-5 cannon]] both in the wings,
|bombs= 2 × {{cvt|250|kg|0}} bombs or 1x {{cvt|500|kg|0}} bomb
|bombs= 2 × {{cvt|250|kg}} bombs or 1 × {{cvt|500|kg}} bomb
}}
}}


Line 146: Line 145:
===Bibliography===
===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
* {{Citation | last = Francillon | first = René J, Ph.D | title = Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War | place = London | publisher = Putnam & Co | edition = 2 | year = 1979 | ISBN = 0-370-30251-6}}. First edition from 1970 {{ISBN|0-370-00033-1}}.
* {{citation|last=Francillon|first=René J, Ph.D|title=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War|place=London|publisher=Putnam & Co|edition=2|year=1979|ISBN=0-370-30251-6}}. First edition from 1970 {{ISBN|0-370-00033-1}}
* {{Citation | last = Green | first = William | title = War Planes of the Second World War | volume = 3. Fighters | place = London | publisher = Macdonald | origyear = 1961 | edition = 7th impr | year = 1973 | ISBN = 0-356-01447-9}}.
* {{citation|last=Green|first=William|title=War Planes of the Second World War|volume=3. Fighters|place=London|publisher=Macdonald|orig-year=1961|edition=7th impr|year=1973|ISBN = 0-356-01447-9}}
* {{Citation | title = Famous Aircraft of the World | series = 1st | number = 76 | volume = 1. Japanese Army Experimental Fighters | place = Japan | publisher = Bunrin-Do Co |date=August 1976}}.
* {{citation|title=Famous Aircraft of the World|series=1st|number=76|volume = 1. Japanese Army Experimental Fighters|place=Japan|publisher=Bunrin-Do Co|date=August 1976|ref={{harvid|FAOW|1976}}}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}


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[[Category:Tachikawa aircraft|Ki-94]]
[[Category:Tachikawa aircraft|Ki-94]]
[[Category:Twin-engined piston aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-engined piston aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-boom aircraft]]
[[Category:Inverted gull-wing aircraft]]

Latest revision as of 18:19, 14 March 2024

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[edit]

Ki-94-I[edit]

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[edit]

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))[edit]

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

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 12 m (39 ft 4 in)
  • Wingspan: 14 m (45 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.65 m (15 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 28 m2 (300 sq ft)
  • Airfoil: root: (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-8454 (17%) ; tip: (Tatsuo Hasegawa) TH346-7s505 (10%)[4]
  • Empty weight: 4,690 kg (10,340 lb)
  • Gross weight: 6,450 kg (14,220 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Ha219 (unified [Ha-44-12]) 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,830 kW (2,450 hp) for take-off
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)
  • Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 712 km/h (442 mph, 384 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 440 km/h (270 mph, 240 kn)
  • Range: 2,100 km (1,300 mi, 1,100 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,680 m (48,160 ft)
  • Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 5 minutes 9 seconds
10,000 m (33,000 ft) in 17 minutes 38 seconds
13,000 m (43,000 ft) in 21 minutes 3 seconds
  • Wing loading: 230.4 kg/m2 (47.2 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.283 kW/kg (0.172 hp/lb)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 30 mm (1.181 in) Ho-155 cannon and 2 × 20 mm (0.787 in) Ho-5 cannon both in the wings,
  • Bombs: 2 × 250 kg (550 lb) bombs or 1 × 500 kg (1,100 lb) bomb

See also[edit]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

  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 2019-04-16.

Bibliography[edit]

  • 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[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tachikawa Ki-94.
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