Kawasaki Army Type 92 Fighter
| KDA-5 (Type 92) | |
|---|---|
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| |
| Role | Single-seat biplane fighter |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Kōkūki Kōgyō K.K. |
| Designer | Richard Vogt of Dornier |
| First flight | 1930 |
| Introduction | 1932 |
| Primary user | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
|
| Number built | 385 |
The Kawasaki KDA-5 was a Japanese single-seat biplane fighter designed by the German Dr. Richard Vogt for the Imperial Japanese Army.
Development
The KDA-5 was designed by Richard Vogt to meet a Japanese Army requirement for a fighter biplane. Five
sesquiplane wings and fixed tailwheel landing gear and was powered by a 470 kW (630 hp) BMW VI
engine.
After 180 aircraft were built, production continued with a structurally strengthened and more powerful Type 92 Model 2. A further 200 Model 2s were built.[1]
Operational history
Both versions saw action with the
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in Manchukuo (Manchuria), although it proved unpopular owing to its unstable take-off and landing behaviour and being difficult to maintain, particularly in cold weather.[1]
A few were still in service in 1941 as trainers.
Variants
- KDA-5
- Five prototypes.
- Type 92 Model 1 Fighter
- Initial production variant with changed fin and rudder and fared headrest, 180 built.
- Type 92 Model 2 Fighter
- Improved version with structural strengthening and more powerful ( kW/750 hp) BMW VII engine, 200 built.
Operators
- Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Specifications (92-I)
Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft,[2] The Complete Book of Fighters[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 7.05 m (23 ft 1.5 in)
- Wingspan: 9.55 m (31 ft 4 in)
- Height: 3.10 m (10 ft 2 in)
- Wing area: 24.0 m2 (258 sq ft)
- Empty weight: 1,280 kg (2,822 lb)
- Gross weight: 1,700 kg (3,747 lb)
- Powerplant: 1 × BMW VI , 470 kW (630 hp)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 320 km/h (199 mph, 173 kn)
- Range: 850 km (528 mi, 459 nmi)
Armament
- 2 × 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine guns (synchronised)
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kawasaki Army Type 92 Fighter.
- Notes
- ^ a b c Mikesh & Abe 1990, p. 153
- ^ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft 1982-1985, p. 2238
- ^ Green & Swanborough 1994, pp. 315–316
- Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. Smithmark. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
- Mikesh, Robert C; Abe, Shorzoe (1990). Japanese Aircraft, 1910-1941. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-840-2.