This aircraft project began in 1938 as a civil aircraft for use in a high-speed research program and for a possible attempt to break the world speed record. After being taken over as a Japanese Army air force project it received the designation Ki-78. Only one prototype was completed, and it first flew on December 26, 1942. Poor handling characteristics and a lower top speed than desired (434 mph versus 528 mph anticipated) led to a cancellation of the project in 1944.

Kawasaki Ki.78

Type:           hi-speed research plane
Service: 	Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF)
Crew:           Pilot
Armament:       none
Reference: 	Francillon: 125, Mondey: n/a

Specifications:
        Length:         26' 7" (8.1 m)
        Height:         10' 1" (3.07 m)
        Wingspan:       26' 3" (8 m)
        Wing area:      118.403 sq. ft (11 sq. m)
        Empty Weight:   4255 lbs (1930 kg)
        Loaded Weight:  5071 lbs (2300 kg)

Propulsion:
        No. of Engines: 1
        Powerplant:     Daimler-Benz DB 601A 12-cyclinder inverted-vee liquid-cooled engine
        Horsepower:     1175 hp

Performance:
        Range:          373 miles (600 km)
        Cruise Speed:   n/a
        Max Speed:      435 mph (700 km/h) at 11,485 ft (3500 m)
        Climb to/in:    n/a
        Ceiling:        26,245 ft (8000 m)

Production:		one Ki-78 completed

For a very nice scale color drawing of this aircraft, see here.

Additional color schemes for this aircraft can be found here.
 

(go to Kawasaki page)

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