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Kawasaki Ki-100

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The Ki-100 was a result of the development of the Ki-61-II being heavily hampered by a number of factors, which would also affect the aircraft itself. So when the Kawasaki Ki-100 did finally enter service it arrived too late to make any impact on the air war during the Second World War.

Quick Facts
Sorry, no image available
First flight
1st February 1945
Entered service
9th March 1945
Total built
395

Front view
Ki-100 front view photo
Side view
Sorry, no view photo available
Rear view
Sorry, no view photo available

The roots of the Ki-100 lay in another Kawasaki aircraft the Ki-61-II which was being used as a high altitude interceptor to attack the high flying Boeing B-29 Superfortress being used at altitudes of around 30,000 ft by the United States. The Ki-61-II was only considered as a stopgap and was powered by the still in development 1,500-hp Kawasaki Ha-140 engine. However the Akashi factory which was manufacturing the engine would be destroyed as a result of an air raid meaning the engine program was cancelled.

As a result of the Ha-140 engine program being abandoned there were 275 Ki-61-II airframes left without engines. Kawasaki were tasked with finding another engine to be installed instead. The major issue was that the aircraft was designed for an inline engine and no alternative was available. The decision was taken to modify three of the excess airframes to take the Mitsubishi Ha-112 II radial engine which provided the same power as the Ha-140.

Making its maiden flight on the 1st February 1945 the aircraft impressed Kawasaki and work started on converting the remaining 272 airframes which would be completed by the end of May, with the first aircraft entering service on the 9th March 1945. The aircraft in its new configuration would be called the Ki-100 with this variant designated Ia. Although when it entered service with the Imperial Japanese Army it was known as the Type 5 Fighter Model 1A.

Two more Ki-100 variants were produced before the increasing air attacks by the United States Army Air Force and the end of the Second World War (1939 - 1945) brought production to a halt. The first was the Ki-100-Ib, of which 99 were produced, which would have an all-round-view canopy installed. This had originally been designed to be fitted to the intended Ki-61-III design which never entered production. Its rear fuselage was cut down as well. The next version would see just three prototypes built for what was to be the Ki-100-II. The turbocharged Mitsubishi Ha-112-IIru which would provide better performance at high altitude was to power these aircraft.

In total 395 aircraft would be modified or built as Ki-100s.



Technical Details

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Top Speed Range Service Ceiling Armament
Ki-100-I 360 mph 1,367 miles 36,090 ft two 20mm Ho-5 cannons
two 0.50-in Ho-103 machine-guns
Ki-100-II Only 3 prototypes produced.



Photos

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Ki-100-Ib



See This Aircraft

(C) = Cockpit only exhibit. (F) = Fuselage only exhibit. (R) = Remains of an aircraft.

Location
Ki-100-Ib Royal Air Force Museum, London

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