Tachikawa Ki-70

Short description: Japanese reconnaissance aircraft prototype

Ki-70

Role  | Reconnaissance
National origin | Japan
Manufacturer  | Tachikawa Aircraft Company
First flight  | 1943
Status  | Prototype
Number built | 3

The Tachikawa Ki-70 "Clara" was a high speed photo reconnaissance aircraft that was tested for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in prototype form but never entered production. The Ki-70 was the intended successor to the Mitsubishi Ki-46 but was difficult to handle and was slower than the Mitsubishi Ki-46. The Ki-70 was first flown in 1943 but was found unsatisfactory and the program was terminated. Three aircraft were built.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Description
* 3 Specifications (Ha-104M engine)
* 4 See also
* 5 References
* 5.1 Notes
* 5.2 Bibliography
* 6 External links

## History

In later years the Ki-70 was used to disprove supposed photographic evidence concerning Amelia Earhart's supposed capture by the Japanese before World War II.[citation needed]

## Description

Using the familiar layout of aircraft such as the Mitsubishi G3M bomber and its planned predecessor the Mitsubishi Ki-46, the Ki-70 had a twin tail and narrow fuselage, an extensively glazed nose and second cockpit facing aft for the gunner.

## Specifications (Ha-104M engine)

(Performance estimated)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [1]

General characteristics

* Crew: 3
* Length: 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
* Wingspan: 17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
* Height: 3.46 m (11 ft 4 in)
* Wing area: 43 m2 (460 sq ft)
* Empty weight: 5,895 kg (12,996 lb)
* Gross weight: 9,855 kg (21,727 lb)
* Max takeoff weight: 10,700 kg (23,589 lb)
* Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha-104M (Army Type 4 1,900hp Air Cooled Radial) 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,400 kW (1,900 hp) each for take-off

1,350 kW (1,810 hp) at 2,200 m (7,200 ft)
1,201 kW (1,610 hp) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)

* Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed metal propellers

Performance

* Maximum speed: 647 km/h (402 mph, 349 kn) at 5,400 m (17,700 ft)
* Cruise speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at 5,400 m (17,700 ft)
* Range: 2,480 km (1,540 mi, 1,340 nmi)
* Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
* Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 5 minutes
* Wing loading: 229.2 kg/m2 (46.9 lb/sq ft)
* Power/mass: 0.288 kW/kg (0.175 hp/lb)

Armament

* Guns: 1 x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) MG, 1 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) MG

## See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

* Mitsubishi Ki-46

## References

### Notes

1. ↑ Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. pp. 257-258. ISBN 0 370 30251 6.

### Bibliography

* Francillon, Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
* Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. (new edition 1987. ISBN 0-85177-801-1.)

## External links

* Complete specifications for the Ki-70[no|permanent dead link|dead link}}]

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