Nakajima Ki-201

Ki-201 "Karyū"
Nakajima Ki-201 Karyū
General information
TypeFighter/Attack aircraft
ManufacturerNakajima Aircraft Company
Designer
Iwao Shibuya
StatusCancelled
Number built0

The Nakajima Ki-201 Karyū (中島 キ201 火龍; "Fire Dragon") was a Japanese jet fighter/attack aircraft project designed during the final stages of World War II but which was not built.

Development

The unrelated and much smaller Nakajima Kikka had been developed as a result of interest by the Navy in an equivalent to the German Messerschmitt Me 262, but the similarities to that aircraft were very limited.[1] On the other hand, the design team led by Iwao Shibuya based the Karyū more closely on the German aircraft, but was over 8% larger.

The Ki-201 project was ordered by the Imperial Japanese Army in late 1944, with a performance requirement of an 800–1,000 km/h (500–620 mph) top speed, 12,000 m (39,000 ft) ceiling, and a 800–1,000 km (500–620 mi) range. The design was developed by Nakajima during 1945 and basic drawings were completed by June.[2]

Nakajima anticipated the completion of the first prototype Karyū by December, and the first 18 pre-production aircraft by March 1946.[2] Work on the first airframe had not started when Japan surrendered.[1][2]

Specifications (planned specification)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War;[3] Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76: Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1)[4]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 11.50 m (37 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 13.70 m (44 ft 11 in)
  • Height: 4.05 m (13 ft 3 in)
  • Wing area: 25.0 m2 (269 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 4,500 kg (9,921 lb) estimated
  • Gross weight: 7,000 kg (15,432 lb) estimated
  • Max takeoff weight: 8,500 kg (18,739 lb) estimated
  • Powerplant: 2 × Nakajima Ne-230 turbojet engines, 8.68 kN (1,951 lbf) thrust each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 812 km/h (505 mph, 438 kn) estimated
  • Range: 980 km (610 mi, 530 nmi) estimated
  • Service ceiling: 12,000 m (39,000 ft)
  • Rate of climb: 12.9 m/s (2,540 ft/min) estimated
  • Wing loading: 280 kg/m2 (57 lb/sq ft)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 30 mm (1.18 in) Ho-155 cannon and 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) Ho-5 cannon
  • Bombs: 1 × 500 kg (1,100 lb) or 800 kg (1,800 lb) bomb

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b Mikesh 1979, p. 28
  2. ^ a b c FAOW. 1976. p. 82.
  3. ^ Francillon 1979, p. 488.
  4. ^ FAOW 1976, p. 42.

Bibliography

  • Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. OCLC 6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, ISBN 0-85177-801-1.)
  • Green, William (1973) [1961]. War Planes of the Second World War: Fighters, Volume Three (Seventh impression ed.). London: Macdonald. ISBN 0-356-01447-9..
  • Mikesh, Robert C. (1979). Kikka. Monogram Close-Up 19. Bolyston, Massachusetts: Monogram Aviation Publications. ISBN 0-914144-19-7..
  • Japanese Army Experimental Fighters (1). Famous Aircraft of the World, first series, no.76. Japan: Bunrin-Do Co. Ltd. August 1976.
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