The Kyushu J7W1 Shinden (Magnificent Lightning) was the only aircraft of canard configuration to be ordered in quantity production anywhere in the world during WWII. It was one of the most unusual aircraft to be designed in Japan, though the version that most aviation buffs are familiar with is not the version that was eventually hoped for by its designer. The rear-mounted radial engine was a pusher design that used a six-blade propeller, though it was planned that in the next version (J7W2) the piston engine would be replaced with a 900 kg thrust Ne-130 turbojet (see the color drawings for a depiction of both designs). The Navy supported the J7W project as it desperately needed a heavily armed high-performance interceptor fighter. The project was given to the Kyushu company, as it was not as burdened with other projects as were most of the other aircraft companies. Three copies of the all-wood glider test version of the Shinden (designated the MXY6) were completed and tested, with sufficient results being obtained to start work on the J7W1 in June of 1944. The first flight occurred on August 3, 1945, and with the war ending soon after the project reached its preempted conclusion.

Kyushu J7W1 Shinden

Type:           Fighter
Service: 	Japanese Navy Air Force (JNAF)
Crew:           Pilot
Armament:       four 30 mm  Type 5 cannon in nose
		two 132 lb (60 kg) bombs externally (or four 66 lb bombs)
Reference: 	Francillon: 338, Mondey: 

Specifications:
        Length:         31' 8.25" (9.66 m)
        Height:         12' 11.3" (3.92 m)
        Wingspan:       36' 5.5" (11.114 m)
        Wing area:      220.659 sq. ft (20.5 sq. m)
        Empty Weight:   7639 lbs (3645 kg)
        Loaded Weight:  10854 lbs (4928 kg)
        Max Weight:     11526 lbs (5228 kg)

Propulsion:
        No. of Engines: 1
        Powerplant:     Mitsubishi Ha-43 12 (MK9D) Type 4 18-cylinder radial
        Horsepower:     2130 hp

Performance:
        Range (normal): 529 st miles (460 naut miles)
        Cruise Speed:   228 mph (228 kt) at 13125 ft (4000 m) 
        Max Speed:      466 mph (405 kt) at 28545 ft (8700 m)
        Climb to/in:    26,245 ft (8000 m) in 10 min 40 sec
        Ceiling:        39,370 ft (12,000 m)

Production:		two prototyes were completed, production started but no
			others completed at the end of the war

Additional information on this aircraft can be found at Wikipedia HERE.

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

Additional color schemes for this aircraft can be found here.

(go to Kyushu page)

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