The Mitsubishi Ki-83 (キ83) was a Japanese experimental long range heavy fighter designed near the end of World War II. It did not reach production status.
The Mitsubishi Ki-83 was designed as a long range heavy fighter. It was designed and built by a team led by Tomio Kubo, designer of the highly successful Mitsubishi Ki-46. The design was a response to a 1943 specification for a new heavy fighter with great range. The first of four prototypes flew on 18 November 1944.[1] The machines displayed remarkable maneuverability for aircraft of their size, being able to execute a 671m (2,200ft) diameter loop in just 31 seconds at a speed of over 644km/h (400mph).[2] The Ki-83 carried a powerful armament of two 30mm (1.18in) and two 20mm cannon in its nose.[3]
Despite the bomb-ravaged Japanese manufacturing sector, plans for the Ki-83 to enter production were underway when Japan surrendered on 15 August 1945.
Both the existence and performance of the Ki-83 were little known during the war, even in Japan. It was completely unknown in Allied military aviation circles – as demonstrated by the fact that the Ki-83 had not been given a reporting name. Most early photographs of the type were taken during the post-war occupation of Japan, when the four prototypes were seized by the United States Army Air Forces and repainted with USAAF insignia. When they were evaluated by U.S. aeronautical engineers and other experts, a Ki-83 using high-octane fuel reached a speed of 762km/h (473mph), at an altitude of 7,000 metres (23,000ft).[1][2][4][5]
A Ki-83 during a postwar USAAF evaluation flight.
Variants
Ki-83 experimental long-range heavy fighter, four prototypes built.
Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-30251-6. OCLC6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, ISBN0-85177-801-1.)
Unknown Author(s). Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1). Tokyo, Japan: Bunrin-Do Co. Ltd., August 1976.
Другой контент может иметь иную лицензию. Перед использованием материалов сайта WikiSort.org внимательно изучите правила лицензирования конкретных элементов наполнения сайта.
2019-2025 WikiSort.org - проект по пересортировке и дополнению контента Википедии