Kawasaki Ki-61

   


Kawasaki Ki-61 "Hien"
Description
RoleLand-based fighter
Crew1
First Flight
Entered Service1942
ManufacturerKawasaki
Dimensions
Length8.75 m
Wingspan12.00 m
Height3.9 m
Wing area20.0 m²
Weights
Emptylb2,238 kg
Loaded2,950 kg
Maximum takeoff lb kg
Powerplant
EngineKawasaki Ha-40
Power1175 hpkW
Performance
Maximum speed mph591km/h
Combat range miles1,100 km
Ferry rangemileskm
Service ceiling ft11,600 m
Rate of climbft/minm/min
Wing loadinglb/ft²kg/m²
Power/Masshp/lbkW/kg
Armament
Guns4 × 12.7 mm machine guns
Bombs2 × 250 kg bombs


The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (飛燕, "flying swallow") was a World War II fighter aircraft used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. The allied code name was "Tony", given by Allied pilots who initially thought it was a derivative of an Italian Macchi. The Japanese Army designation was "Type 3 Fighter" (三式戦闘機).

Influenced by the design of the Messerschmitt Me 109 and Heinkel He 100, the Ki-61 was the only Japanese fighter powered by a liquid-cooled engine. The engine was a development of the Daimler-Benz DB 601, and early versions were armed with German MG 151 machine guns.

Towards the end of the war, the engines were in short supply due to unreliable manufacture, and assembled airframes were fitted with Ha-112 radial engines, significantly improving performance. The resulting aircraft was designated Ki-100.

External links

  • [1] (http://www.vectorsite.net/avhien.html) Vectorsite article (public domain)


Related content
Related Development

Kawasaki Ki-100

Similar Aircraft

Heinkel He 100 - Macchi C.202 - LaGG-3

Designation Series

Ki-58 - Ki-59 - Ki-60 - Ki-61 - Ki-62 - Ki-63 - Ki-60

Related Lists

List of military aircraft of Japan


List of Aircraft | Aircraft Manufacturers | Aircraft Engines | Aircraft Engine Manufacturers
Airlines | Air Forces | Aircraft Weapons | Missiles | Timeline of aviation


ja:三式戦闘機


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