Mitsubishi Ki-57

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Ki-57
Mitsubishi Ki-57.jpg
MC-20-I, with a nickname Asagumo (morning cloud), used by Asahi Shimbun
RoleTransport aircraft
Paratroop transport
Passenger aircraft
Manufacturer Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
First flightAugust 1940
Introduction 1942
Primary users Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Imperial Japanese Airways
Produced1940–1945
Number built406
Developed from Mitsubishi Ki-21

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s.

Contents

Development

In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of the Imperial Japanese Airways. In consequence, a civil version was developed and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two 708 kW (950 hp) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines, differed primarily by having the same wings transferred from a mid- to low-wing configuration and the incorporation of a new fuselage to provide accommodation for up to 11 passengers. This transport version appealed also to the navy, and following the flight of a prototype in August 1940 and subsequent testing, the type was ordered into production for both civil and military use. [1]

This initial production Ki-57-I had the civil and military designations of MC-20-I and Army Type 100 Transport Model 1, respectively. A total of 100 production Ki-57-Is had been built by early 1942, and small numbers of them were transferred for use by the Japanese navy in a transport role, then becoming redesignated L4M1. After the last of the Ki-57s had been delivered production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful 805 kW (1,080 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles and, at the same time, incorporated a number of detail refinements and minor equipment changes. Civil and military designations of this version were the MC-20-II and Army Type 100 Transport Model 2, respectively. Only 406 were built before production ended in January 1945. Both versions were covered by the Allied reporting name "Topsy". [2]

Variants

MC-20-II with the nickname Hakutsuru (white crane) during the Sino-Japanese war Mitsubishi MC-20-II.jpg
MC-20-II with the nickname Hakutsuru (white crane) during the Sino-Japanese war

Operators

A wrecked Ki-57 on Honshu in late 1945 Mitsubishi Ki-57 Topsy wrecked.jpg
A wrecked Ki-57 on Honshu in late 1945

Wartime

Military operators

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Manchukuo.svg  Manchukuo

Civil operators

Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of Manchukuo.svg  Manchukuo
Flag of the Republic of China-Nanjing (Peace, Anti-Communism, National Construction).svg Reorganized National Government of China
Flag of the Philippines (1943-1945).svg  Second Philippine Republic

Post-war

Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands

Accidents and incidents

Specifications (Ki-57-II)

3-view drawing of the Mitsubishi Ki-57 Mitsubishi Ki-57 3-view line drawing.png
3-view drawing of the Mitsubishi Ki-57

Data fromJapanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [4]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Related lists

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References

  1. Francillon 1979 , pp. 182–183
  2. Francillon 1979 , pp. 183–184
  3. Francillon 1979 , p. 184.
  4. Francillon 1979, pp. 184–185.
Bibliography