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The Ki-54 was developed in response to an Imperial Japanese Army requirement for a twin-engine advanced trainer, principally for crew training. The prototype first flew in the summer of 1940 and, on completing trials, entered production in 1941 as Army Type 1 Advanced Trainer Model A (Ki-54a). The Ki-54a was soon followed by the Ki-54b as Army Type 1 Operations Trainer Model B and Ki-54c as Army Type 1 Transport Model C. The Ki-54b and -c enjoyed successful careers until the end of the war. A few captured aircraft were flown after the war by various users.
Operators
Japan
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force used them for training as per their design.
Manchukuo
Manchukuo Air Force Three were provided by Japan as VIP transports.
Ki-110 - one prototype Ki-54c of all-wood construction, destroyed in US bombing attack
Ki-111 - projected fuel tanker (none built)
Ki-114 - projected fuel tanker of all-wood construction (none built)
Surviving aircraft
Ki-54 at the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum
A Ki-54 fuselage is in Australia in storage at the Australian War Museum Annex. It was previously part of a playground at the RAAF Fairbairn base kindergarten.[2][3]
Another Ki-54 fuselage is stored in China at the Chinese Aviation Museum.[4]
A nearly intact Ki-54 is proposed to be restored by Tachichi Holdings (ja), the successor to the aircraft's manufacturer. It was found at the bottom of Lake Towada in Aomori Prefecture on 13 August 2010 and recovered on 5 September 2012.[5] It was preserved for display at the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum in the damaged state it was found.[6] It remained at that museum until 2020 when it was given to Tachichi Holdings for a proposed restoration. The aircraft was briefly on display in 2022 in Tokyo in the same condition as it was in Misawa.[7]
Specifications (Ki-54c light transport)
Data fromThe Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II;[8]Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[9]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Capacity: 8
Length: 11.94 m (39 ft 2 in)
Wingspan: 17.9 m (58 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.58 m (11 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 40 m2 (430 sq ft)
Empty weight: 2,954 kg (6,512 lb)
Gross weight: 3,897 kg (8,591 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Hitachi Ha13a (Army Type 98 450hp Air Cooled Radial) 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 380 kW (510 hp) each for take-off
Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-30251-6. OCLC6124909. (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, ISBN0-85177-801-1.)
Mondey, David (1996). The Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. New York: Bounty Books. ISBN1-85152-966-7.
Soumille, Jean-Claude (September 1999). "Les avions japonais aux coleurs françaises" (in French). Avions: Toute l'Aéronautique et Son Histoire (78): 6–17. ISSN1243-8650.