Mitsubishi Ki-83
| Mitsubishi Ki-83 | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | Heavy fighter aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
November 18, 1944 |
| Commissioning: |
prototype |
| Number of pieces: |
4th |
The Mitsubishi Ki-83 heavy long -range fighter was a response to a corresponding specification of the Japanese Army Air Forces from 1943. The prototype was designed by Tomio Kubo , the designer of the successful Mitsubishi Ki-46 (nickname of the Allies: "Dinah"), and his team designed.
The first of four prototypes flew on November 18, 1944. The machine showed remarkable maneuverability for an aircraft of its size; she was z. B. able to fly a loop with a diameter of 671 m in just 31 seconds at a speed of 644 km / h. The powerful armament consisted of two 30 mm and two 20 mm cannons in the aircraft nose. The Japanese Navy also showed interest, but the destruction of the industry by American air strikes and the surrender of Japan in August 1945 prevented the model from being used.
The Ki-83 was not given an Allied code name. After the war, American aerospace engineers tested the four prototypes. During the test flights with American high- octane gasoline (standard fuel for US aircraft), the fully equipped Ki-83 reached 762 km / h at an altitude of 7000 m.
Like the Ki-46, the Ki-83 was an all-metal mid-decker with a conventional rear wheel landing gear. The planned (but not realized) reconnaissance version Ki-95 should replace the Ki-46; an improved version of the Ki-83 called the Ki-103 also failed to make it off the drawing board.
Technical specifications
Ki-83
- Length: 12.50 m
- Span: 15.50 m
- Height: 4.60 m
- Wing area: 33.52 m²
- Wing loading: 263 kg / m²
- Powerplant: two air-cooled 18-cylinder radial engines Mitsubishi Ha-112 RU with turbocharging;
2200 HP takeoff power each - Cruising speed: 450 km / h
- Top speed: 705 km / h in 9000 m (762 km / h with high-octane fuel)
- Climbing time to 10,000 m: 10 min
- Service ceiling: 12,600 m
- Range: 3500 km
- Crew: 2
- Empty weight: 5980 kg
- Setup mass: 8795 kg
- Max. Takeoff weight: 9430 kg
- Armament: two 30 mm cannons (Ho-105), two 20 mm cannons (Ho-5);
two 50 kg bombs possible
See also: List of aircraft types