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Mitsubishi Ki-18

January 01, 1970

The Mitsubishi Ki-18 (三菱 キ18, Ki-jyuhachi) was an unsuccessful and unsolicited attempt by Mitsubishi to meet a 1934 requirement issued by the Japanese Army for a modern single-seat monoplane fighter suitable to the needs of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. During this competition, Nakajima entered the Nakajima Ki-11 (which was somewhat similar to the Boeing P-26 Peashooter), and Kawasaki entered the more maneuverable Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. The competition was won by Kawasaki, but the new fighter was not accepted by the IJAAF with much enthusiasm.[1]

Ki-18
Mitsubishi Ki-18
Role prototype fighter aircraft
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd
First flight August 1935
Primary user IJA Air Force
Number built 1

Design and development edit

In 1934, Mitsubishi had developed the Ka-14 9-Shi fighter prototype specifically for an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement. The design exhibited outstanding performance, and with the Navy's consent, the Army placed a contract with Mitsubishi for a modified version for evaluation, which was designated the Ki-18.[1][2]

The Ki-18 was a low-wing monoplane of all-metal construction with fabric-covered control surfaces. It was powered by a Nakajima Kotobuki-5 nine-cylinder radial engines, rated at 410 kW (550 hp) for take-off, and 447 kW (600 hp) at 3,100 m (10,170 ft), driving a two-blade fixed-pitch wooden propeller.

The main external differences between the Ki-18 and the Ka-14 included an enlarged rudder, larger landing gear (with spats) and an engine cowling. Internally, the direction of the throttle movement was reversed to meet Army practice, and the machine guns were replaced with Army standard weaponry.

The Ki-18 made its first flight once completed in August 1935 at the Army's Tachikawa Air Technical Research Institute, and was later tested at the Akeno Army Flying School through the end of 1935.[1]

In early 1936, the engine was changed to the Nakajima Kotobuki 3, rated at 477 kW (640 hp) for take-off and 533 kW (715 hp) at 2,800 m (9,190 ft). During testing, the Ki-18 achieved a maximum speed of 444 km/h (276 mph) at 3,050 m (10,010 ft) was recorded, and the aircraft was able to climb to 5,000 m (16,400 ft) in 6 minutes 25.8 seconds, which was considered an exceptional rate for the time.[1]

The Akeno Army Flying School test results gave the Ki-18 a very high recommendation, and it was proposed that the fighter be produced for front-line service. However, the Army Air Technical Research Institute was vehemently against using a Navy design, and after choosing to ignore the data, claimed that the Nakajima Kotobuki engines were "unreliable" and that the Ki-18 lacked the performance necessary for an Army fighter. Instead, the Army Air Technical Research Institute recommended that a new competition would be staged, with Nakajima, Kawasaki and Mitsubishi invited to participate. As the Ki-10 had entered production only one year earlier, this proposal was immediately vetoed by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. Thus, the Ki-18 ended with only one aircraft, although the essentially identical Ka-14 was accepted as a revolutionary fighter by the Japanese Navy as the Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 carrier-based fighter.[1]

Variants edit

  • Ki-18 : Prototype for testing (1 unit produced)

Operators edit

  Japan

Specifications (Ki-18) edit

Data from Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941,[1] and Famous Airplanes of the World, first series, #76: Army Experimental Fighters (1) [3]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 7.655 m (25 ft 1 in)
  • Wingspan: 11 m (36 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 3.15 m (10 ft 4 in)
  • Wing area: 17.8 m2 (192 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,110 kg (2,447 lb)
  • Gross weight: 1,422 kg (3,135 lb)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Nakajima Kotobuki 5 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 333 kW (447 hp)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 444 km/h (276 mph, 240 kn) at 3,050 m (10,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 12.95 m/s (2,550 ft/min)
  • Wing loading: 79.9 kg/m2 (16.4 lb/sq ft)
  • Power/mass: 0.31 kW/kg (0.19 hp/lb)

Armament

See also edit

Related development

Related lists

References edit

Notes
  1. ^ a b c d e f Mikesh & Abe 1990, p. 187.
  2. ^ Januszewski 2003, pp. 10–11.
  3. ^ FAOW 1976, p. 2
Bibliography
  • Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (second edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  • Januszewski, Tadeusz (2003). Mitsubishi A5M Claude. Sandomierz, Poland/Redbourn, UK: Mushroom Model Publications. ISBN 83-917178-0-1.
  • Mikesh, Robert C.; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-563-2.
  • Army Experimental Fighters (1). Famous Airplanes of the World Series 1. Tokyo: Bunrin-Do. August 1976.
  • Unknown author. Famous Airplanes of the World, second series, #24: Army Experimental Fighters. Tokyo: Bunrin-Do, September 1990.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki-18.
  • Axis History Forum

January 01, 1970
mitsubishi, 三菱, キ18, jyuhachi, unsuccessful, unsolicited, attempt, mitsubishi, meet, 1934, requirement, issued, japanese, army, modern, single, seat, monoplane, fighter, suitable, needs, imperial, japanese, army, force, during, this, competition, nakajima, ent. The Mitsubishi Ki 18 三菱 キ18 Ki jyuhachi was an unsuccessful and unsolicited attempt by Mitsubishi to meet a 1934 requirement issued by the Japanese Army for a modern single seat monoplane fighter suitable to the needs of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force During this competition Nakajima entered the Nakajima Ki 11 which was somewhat similar to the Boeing P 26 Peashooter and Kawasaki entered the more maneuverable Kawasaki Ki 10 biplane The competition was won by Kawasaki but the new fighter was not accepted by the IJAAF with much enthusiasm 1 Ki 18 Mitsubishi Ki 18 Role prototype fighter aircraft Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd First flight August 1935 Primary user IJA Air Force Number built 1 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications Ki 18 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksDesign and development editIn 1934 Mitsubishi had developed the Ka 14 9 Shi fighter prototype specifically for an Imperial Japanese Navy requirement The design exhibited outstanding performance and with the Navy s consent the Army placed a contract with Mitsubishi for a modified version for evaluation which was designated the Ki 18 1 2 The Ki 18 was a low wing monoplane of all metal construction with fabric covered control surfaces It was powered by a Nakajima Kotobuki 5 nine cylinder radial engines rated at 410 kW 550 hp for take off and 447 kW 600 hp at 3 100 m 10 170 ft driving a two blade fixed pitch wooden propeller The main external differences between the Ki 18 and the Ka 14 included an enlarged rudder larger landing gear with spats and an engine cowling Internally the direction of the throttle movement was reversed to meet Army practice and the machine guns were replaced with Army standard weaponry The Ki 18 made its first flight once completed in August 1935 at the Army s Tachikawa Air Technical Research Institute and was later tested at the Akeno Army Flying School through the end of 1935 1 In early 1936 the engine was changed to the Nakajima Kotobuki 3 rated at 477 kW 640 hp for take off and 533 kW 715 hp at 2 800 m 9 190 ft During testing the Ki 18 achieved a maximum speed of 444 km h 276 mph at 3 050 m 10 010 ft was recorded and the aircraft was able to climb to 5 000 m 16 400 ft in 6 minutes 25 8 seconds which was considered an exceptional rate for the time 1 The Akeno Army Flying School test results gave the Ki 18 a very high recommendation and it was proposed that the fighter be produced for front line service However the Army Air Technical Research Institute was vehemently against using a Navy design and after choosing to ignore the data claimed that the Nakajima Kotobuki engines were unreliable and that the Ki 18 lacked the performance necessary for an Army fighter Instead the Army Air Technical Research Institute recommended that a new competition would be staged with Nakajima Kawasaki and Mitsubishi invited to participate As the Ki 10 had entered production only one year earlier this proposal was immediately vetoed by the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Thus the Ki 18 ended with only one aircraft although the essentially identical Ka 14 was accepted as a revolutionary fighter by the Japanese Navy as the Mitsubishi A5M Type 96 carrier based fighter 1 Variants editKi 18 Prototype for testing 1 unit produced Operators edit nbsp Japan Imperial Japanese Army Air ForceSpecifications Ki 18 editData from Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 1 and Famous Airplanes of the World first series 76 Army Experimental Fighters 1 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 7 655 m 25 ft 1 in Wingspan 11 m 36 ft 1 in Height 3 15 m 10 ft 4 in Wing area 17 8 m2 192 sq ft Empty weight 1 110 kg 2 447 lb Gross weight 1 422 kg 3 135 lb Powerplant 1 Nakajima Kotobuki 5 9 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 333 kW 447 hp Performance Maximum speed 444 km h 276 mph 240 kn at 3 050 m 10 000 ft Rate of climb 12 95 m s 2 550 ft min Wing loading 79 9 kg m2 16 4 lb sq ft Power mass 0 31 kW kg 0 19 hp lb Armament Guns 2 fixed forward firing 7 7 mm 303 in Type 89 machine gunsSee also editRelated development Mitsubishi A5M Mitsubishi Ki 33 Related lists List of military aircraft of JapanReferences editNotes a b c d e f Mikesh amp Abe 1990 p 187 Januszewski 2003 pp 10 11 FAOW 1976 p 2 Bibliography Francillon Ph D Rene J Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War London Putnam amp Company Ltd 1970 second edition 1979 ISBN 0 370 30251 6 Januszewski Tadeusz 2003 Mitsubishi A5M Claude Sandomierz Poland Redbourn UK Mushroom Model Publications ISBN 83 917178 0 1 Mikesh Robert C Abe Shorzoe 1990 Japanese Aircraft 1910 1941 Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 563 2 Army Experimental Fighters 1 Famous Airplanes of the World Series 1 Tokyo Bunrin Do August 1976 Unknown author Famous Airplanes of the World second series 24 Army Experimental Fighters Tokyo Bunrin Do September 1990 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mitsubishi Ki 18 Axis History Forum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mitsubishi Ki 18 amp oldid 1213558025, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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