Nakajima Kikka

Nakajima Kikka

description
Intended use	Fighter / bomber
crew	1
Dimensions
length	8.13 m
span	10.00 m
height	2.95 m
Wing area	13.2 m²
Crowds
Empty	2300 kg
Loaded	3507 kg
Max. Takeoff mass	4088 kg
drive
Engine	2 × jet turbines Ne-20
Thrust	9.4 kN	2.094 kg
Performance (estimated)
Top speed	695 km / h
Range	937 km
Summit height	12,303 m
Rate of climb	387 m / min
Armament
Bombs	no series version should carry: 1 × 250 kg, 500 kg, or 1000 kg

IHI Corporation Turbojet Ishikawajima Ne-20

The Nakajima Kikka ( Japanese. 中島橘花 , "Kikka" in German "orange blossom") was Japan's first jet aircraft . It was developed towards the end of World War II , but the prototype only flew once before the war ended. The type designation J9Y is sometimes found for the Kikka , but there is no indication that this designation was actually officially assigned.

history

After the Japanese military attaché saw the testing of the Messerschmitt Me 262 in Germany in 1944 , Nakajima Hikōki was commissioned to develop a comparable aircraft as a high-speed bomber. The specifications contained, among other things, the requirement that the aircraft could largely be built by unskilled workers and that the wings should be foldable. The latter requirement was supposed to enable hidden accommodation in caves and tunnels , as the Japanese Navy was already preparing to defend the home islands. The designers Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura from Nakajima then designed an aircraft that resembled the Me 262.

Originally, the Kikka was supposed to be powered by a Tsu-11 engine - a not very well developed engine that was little more than a rotor with an afterburner . Subsequent designs were made around a Ne-10 (TR-10) centrifugal flow jet engine and a Ne-12 (Ne-10 with an additional four-stage axial compressor). Tests with this engine soon showed that this engine was nowhere near the power to propel the aircraft. The project was then discontinued for the time being. It was later decided to build a new axial flow engine based on the German BMW 003 . The development turned out to be difficult because not much more than photos and a sectional drawing were available as a basis. But finally, with the Ne-20 from Ishikawajima , a suitable engine could finally be built.

In the summer of 1945, when the war in Europe had already ended, the Kikka project made further progress, while the Japanese navy, due to the worsening war situation, changed the purpose of the aircraft to a "special attack aircraft" - a name given for Kamikaze - Weapons was used.

Compared to the Me 262, the Kikka was significantly smaller and more conventional in design. Instead of the swept wings and control surfaces, straight surfaces were used. The characteristic triangular fuselage cross-section of the Me 262 was less pronounced due to the smaller fuel tanks. The main landing gear was taken over from the Mitsubishi A6M Zero, the nose wheel from the Yokosuka P1Y bomber . Another project that was much more similar to the Me 262 was planned under the designation Ki-201 "Karyu".

The first prototype was subjected to first tests on the ground near Nakajima on June 30, 1945. The following month it was dismantled and taken to the Kisarazu Naval Airfield, where it was reassembled and prepared for flight testing. The first flight was carried out on August 7, 1945 by Susumu Takaoka . The aircraft performed satisfactorily during a 20-minute test flight, but the required take-off route was criticized. For a second test flight, four days later, additional launch rockets were installed. However, since the orientation of these missiles had been calculated incorrectly, the pilot mistakenly believed that the missiles had not ignited and switched off the main engines. As a result, the plane was unable to take off and rolled over the end of the runway, damaging it. Japan surrendered before the plane could be repaired.

At that time, the second prototype was almost ready and another 18 to 25 aircraft were under construction. One of them was a two-seat training aircraft .

Other planned versions included a reconnaissance aircraft and a fighter with two 30-mm cannons. These should be powered by further developments of the Ne-20: the Ne-130 and the Ne-330.

Nakajima developed several variants of the "Kikka":

Interceptor

Estimated data on this development: Developments comparable to the Me-262-A-1a fighter version

Nakajima "Kikka", basic interceptor version
Length: 11.50 m
Span: 13.70 m
Height: 4.05 m
Wing area: 25.0 m²
Takeoff weight: 7000 kg
Empty weight: 4500 kg
Engine: two jet turbines Ishikawajima Ne-130, 908 kp (8.90 kN ) or Nakajima Ne-230, 885 kp (8.68 kN)
Top speed: 852 km / h (Ne-130), 812 km / h (Ne-230)
Range: 980 km
Summit height: 12,000+ m
Crew: 1
Armament (interceptor): two 30-mm-MK Ho155 or two 20-mm-MG Ho5
- for the standard version - corresponding to the Nakajima Ki-201 "Karyuu" interceptor of the army

Modified interceptors

(Only incomplete data available)

Nakajima "Kikka", modified interceptor (three different plans)
In 1945 three modified interceptor projects based on the Nakajima "Kikka" were planned
1. Project: Basic execution
Length: 9.25 m
Span: 10.00 m
Height: 3.05 m
Wing area: 13.21 m²
Takeoff weight: 4152 kg
Empty weight: 3920 kg
Powerplant: two jet turbines Ishikawajima Ne-20-Kai, 618 kp (6.06 kN)
Top speed: 700 km / h (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Range: 609 km (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Summit height: 12,100 m
Crew: 1
Armament: a 30 mm MK Type 5
Starter rockets: two rockets Type 41 Go 20 (800 kg)
2. Project: Changed landing flaps
- same data as 1st project.
3. Project: Modified landing flaps and enlarged wingspan
Length: 9.25 m
Span: 10.00 m
Height: 3.05 m
Wing area: 14.52 m²
Powerplant: two jet turbines Ishikawajima Ne-20-Kai, 618 kp (6.06 kN)
Top speed: 685 km / h (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Range: 594 km (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Summit height: 12,300 m
Crew: 1
Armament: a 30 mm MK Type 5
Starter missiles: two missiles Type 41 Go, Model 20 (800 kg)

Fighter bomber

Estimated data on this development: Development comparable to the Me-262-A-2a fighter-bomber version

Length: 11.50 m
Span: 13.70 m
Height: 4.05 m
Wing area: 25.0 m²
Takeoff weight: 7000 kg
Empty weight: 4500 kg
Engine: two jet turbines Ishikawajima Ne-130, 908 kp (8.90 kN) or Nakajima Ne-230, 885 kp (8.68 kN)
Top speed: 852 km / h (Ne-130), 812 km / h (Ne-230)
Range: 980 km
Summit height: over 12,000 m
Crew: 1
Armament (fighter-bomber only):

two 30 mm MK Ho155-II or two 20 mm MK Ho5 (marine version) one 500 kg or 800 kg bomb

Jet trainer

Estimated data on this development: Development comparable to the Me-262-B-1a jet trainer:

Length: 9.25 m
Span: 10.00 m
Height: 3.05 m
Wing area: 13.21 m²
Takeoff weight: 4009 kg
Powerplant: two jet turbines Ishikawajima Ne-20-Kai, 618 kp (6.06 kN)
Top speed: 722 km / h (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Range: 667 km (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Crew: 2
Starter missiles: two missiles Type 41 Go, Model 20 (800 kg)

Special attack aircraft (Kamikaze)

Estimated data on this development:

Length: 9.25 m
Span: 10.00 m
Height: 3.05 m
Wing area: 13.21 m²
Takeoff weight: 3550 kg
Empty weight: 2300 kg
Engine: two Ishikawajima Ne-20 jet turbines, 475 kp (4.66 kN)
Top speed: 677 km / h (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Range: 584 km (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Summit height: 10,700 m
Crew: 1
Armament: a 250 kg or 500 kg bomb
Starter missiles: two missiles Type 41 Go-Modell-20 (800 kg)

High speed modification. Also intended for launch from the 200 m catapult.

Length: 9.25 m
Span: 10.00 m
Height: 3.05 m
Wing area: 13.21 m²
Takeoff weight: 4080 kg
Engine: two Ishikawajima Ne-20 jet turbines, 475 kp (4.66 kN)
Top speed: 687 km / h (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Range: 584 km (at an altitude of 6,000 m)
Summit height: 10,700 m
Crew: 1
Armament: a 250 kg or 500 kg bomb
Starter missiles: two missiles Type 41 Go-Modell-20 (800 kg)

After the war, a “Kikka” was brought to the USA and is now in the National Air and Space Museum . This aircraft is incomplete and probably consists of parts of several machines that were still under construction at the time. The machine is sprayed green. This paint was originally applied as a corrosion protection for sea transport to the USA. There is no evidence that the Kikka flown in Japan was also green. Sometimes red-brown is indicated.

swell

「秋水」と日本陸海軍ジェット、ロケット機. Model Art Co. Ltd., 1998, Edited by Takeo Yamashita.
Nakajima Kikka. Kit description from Pegasus.
Robert C. Mikesh: Monogram Close-up 19 Kikka. Bolyston 1979, ISBN 0-914144-19-7 .

Web links

Commons : Nakajima Kikka - album with pictures, videos and audio files