Kawanishi Baika (Ume Blossom)

History of Kawanishi Baika (Plum Blossom)

Japan benefited greatly from its alliance with Nazi Germany during World War II (1939-1945). The Germans sent Japan complete examples of aircraft and engines, as well as technical documentation, to help their Pacific allies fight off annihilation in a years-long war. In the deteriorating war situation, the Japanese could only do so much, copying several designs (including the Messerschmitt Me 163 "Komet" rocket-powered fighter and the Messerschmitt Me 262 "Schwalbe" jet-powered fighter) , while beginning to develop these German branches understandably.

The technology passed on to Japanese engineers included the pulse jet engine.

Pulse jets offer significant performance improvements over conventional piston engine aircraft types. They were also lighter and simpler than the turbojets of the time. One limitation, however, is that pulse jets cannot generate their own thrust from zero airspeed, requiring additional external power sources, such as rocket boosters, to achieve launch.

Once a certain minimum flight speed is reached, the missile is dropped and the pulse jet can take over.

Pulsejets generate thrust through their own forward motion, sucking in air through the front air intake and expelling it as hot gas through the rear port. In between, the valve ensures the correct closing of the combustion chamber, where the ignition of the air mixed with the fuel takes place.

The result is forward thrust suitable for high-speed military aircraft, delivered in pulses, hence the name - Pulsejet.

The German Argus As 014 Pulse Jet came to Japan and it was this propulsion system used in the V-1 terrorist missile that killed London citizens in the war. The V-1's manned counterpart was the Fieseler Fi 103R "Reichenberg," which retained the V-1's basic form and function but added a single-seat cockpit.

The same engine will be used to power the new Japanese suicide assassination platform in Kawanishi "Baika" ("Ume Blossom") - itself being developed as a single-seat, single-engine attack platform similar to the Fi 103R.

Kawanishi aircraft are largely traditional in appearance, with low-set monoplane wings, mid-position cockpit, single-blade empennage and (pop-out) tail-tow landing gear, with pulse jet engines mounted in the rear extension body. A rocket booster will give him the power he needs to take off.

It was originally in service with the Imperial Japanese Navy, which weakened every week during the war. The original design was called Type I.

The

Type II followed, a revision of the basic approach, with the pulse jet engine moved slightly forward over the spine. This variant is intended to be used to launch IJN submarines to provide weapons and direct connection to key US and British warships operating in theaters. This led to the last iteration of the Baika concept - Type III.

In stark contrast to the previous two products, this design had its pulse jet engine mounted on the ventral side and was air-launched by Japanese bombers without a landing gear system.

Regardless of the planning and manual labor that went into the Baika project, there was nothing but a prototype Argus pulse jet engine - known locally as the Maru Ka 10 series and promising 795 pounds of thrust. The end of the war ended all work on these suicide planes and their respective engines.

Estimated performance includes a top speed of 405 mph, cruising speed of 300 mph, range of up to 175 miles, and a service ceiling of 6,565 feet. Since its intended role on the battlefield is to conduct kamikaze attacks, high-altitude combat is not important. The weapon is a 550-pound explosive warhead mounted on the fuselage.

As with other kamikaze weapons of war, the pilot is expected to sacrifice himself along with his aircraft - an expensive investment in warfare.

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes