Tachikawa Ki-94

History

Many of the aircraft developed by Japan when it surrendered in 1945 were retired in their state (if they had not been destroyed by ruthless air strikes by the Japanese themselves or by the Allies). Tachikawa conducted two postwar programs under the name "Ki-94" to provide the Army with interceptor bombers.

When the American Boeing B-29 "Superfortress" heavy high-altitude bomber became the main focus of the Japanese mainland, a high-altitude fighter capable of intercepting these machines came into being.

The original Ki-94 product, later designated "Ki-94-I", was a unique twin-arm, single-engine/twin-prop fighter design with a central fuselage nacelle to accommodate Cockpit, weapons and engines. The wing main aircraft is mounted low with outriggers extending from its trailing edge. The single-seat cockpit is mounted in the center of the fuselage nacelle, and the engine is located in the nose. The aircraft will be powered by one engine - an air-cooled Nakajima Ha-211 18-cylinder radial-piston engine - which simultaneously drives a twin-propeller arrangement: a four-bladed propeller unit in the nose and a second unit at the tip of the fuselage The nacelle, which has an extended shaft to be driven (called a "push-pull" configuration).

Proposed weapons include 2 x 37mm guns and 2 x 30mm guns - a massive frontal "strike" against any Allied bomber in the war.

This design was too complicated for the Army and passed on by the authorities.

The successor Ki-94-II adopted a more traditional design arrangement. A low wing plane was used, with the wings forward amidships and the cockpit above. The rear wing uses a vertical plane and two lower horizontal planes. The engine is fixed in the nose, and there is a trailing undercarriage.

A pressurized cockpit should be used to meet altitude requirements. Power comes from a Nakajima Ha-219 (Ha-44-12) 18-cylinder engine producing 2,461 horsepower driving a six-blade propeller unit. The armament is centred on 2 x 30mm Ho-155 series guns and 2 x 20mm Ho-5 guns - all mounted on the wings.

If desired, it will be used to carry 2 x 550lb Drop Bombs for attacking characters.

This is the second product supported by the Army and further development will take place through three prototypes and a static test airframe. In addition, about 18 pre-production aircraft will provide useful operational experience. The first prototype appears to be powered by a 2,541-horsepower Nakajima Ha-219 engine, although only a four-bladed propeller is available to accompany it.

Due to the end of the war in August 1945, the prototype did not make its first flight. The second prototype was still under construction at the time and had not yet been completed. After the war, all jobs were cancelled.

Specification

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