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The Kawasaki Ki-78, originally given the designation Ken III (Kensan - research III), was a high-speed research aircraft (after research projects of long-range and high-altitude aircraft),[2] also intended to attempt breaking the world absolute speed record.[1]

Ki-78
Role High speed research aircraft
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo K.K.
Design group Aeronautical Research Institute of the University of Tokyo
First flight 26 December 1942[1]
Number built 1 completed + 1x mock-up and the partially complete 2nd prototype[1]

Design and development


The Kawasaki Ki-78 was a high-speed research aircraft developed to investigate laminar profile wings with high wing loadings. Early in 1938 a high-speed research program was started at the Aeronautical Research Institute of the University of Tokyo for a small single-seat aircraft.[1]

The Ki-78 was designed at the Aeronautical Research Institute and built at Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo K.K. to investigate flying behaviour at very high speed. It featured a streamlined minimum cross-section fuselage fitted with a licence-built Daimler-Benz DB 601A engine. For short durations, power boost methanol/water injection was used and cooling was improved by a 45 kW (60 hp) turbine driven cooling fan for the radiators.[1]

All-metal construction was used in combination with a small thin wing with a laminar flow profile and a sharp leading edge.[1]


Operational history


By the outbreak of the war, the whole project was taken over by the Imperial Japanese Army who gave it the military type designation Ki-78. Kawasaki received the order to build two prototypes of the Ki-78, construction of which was started in September 1941. The first was completed more than a year later and was flown for the first time on 26 December 1942. A feasibility study to improve the KI-78 flight performance showed that extensive airframe modifications were needed and consequently the project was officially terminated after the 32nd flight on 11 January 1944; the second Ki-78 was never completed.[1]


Specifications (Ken III / Ki-78)


Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[1]

General characteristics

Performance


See also


Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era


References


  1. Francillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
  2. スピード追い求めた幻の翼 研三 - KENSAN -. かかみがはら航空宇宙科学博物館. p. 10.

Further reading





На других языках


- [en] Kawasaki Ki-78

[it] Kawasaki Ki-78

Il Kawasaki Ki-78, precedentemente indicato come KEN III (研 三?) o Kenzo (研三 Kenzō?), fu un aereo sperimentale, monoposto, monomotore e monoplano ad ala bassa, sviluppato dall'Istituto di ricerca aeronautica dell'Università Imperiale di Tokyo in collaborazione con l'azienda aeronautica giapponese Kawasaki Kōkūki Kogyo KK, divisione aeronautica della Kawasaki Heavy Industries.



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