Tachikawa Ki-70

Japanese reconnaissance aircraft prototype

Ki-70

Role  | Reconnaissance

Type of aircraft

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 Japanese 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.

## History[edit]

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[edit]

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)[edit]

(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 (7,218 ft)
1,201 kW (1,610 hp) at 6,100 m (20,013 ft)

* Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed metal propellers

Performance

* Maximum speed: 647 km/h (402 mph, 349 kn) at 5,400 m (17,717 ft)
* Cruise speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at 5,400 m (17,717 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 (16,404 ft) in 5 minutes
* Wing loading: 229.2 kg/m2 (46.9 lb/sq ft)
* Power/mass: 0.2884 kW/kg (0.1754 hp/lb)

Armament

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

## See also[edit]

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

* Mitsubishi Ki-46

## References[edit]

### Notes[edit]

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

### Bibliography[edit]

* 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[edit]

* Complete specifications for the Ki-70[permanent dead link]

* v
* t
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Tachikawa aircraft

Imperial Japanese Army types|

* Ki-9
* Ki-17
* Ki-24
* Ki-25
* Ki-26
* Ki-29
* Ki-36
* Ki-54
* Ki-55
* Ki-70
* Ki-71
* Ki-72
* Ki-74
* Ki-77
* Ki-92
* Ki-94
* Ki-104
* Ki-106
* Ki-110
* Ki-111
* Ki-114

* SS-1
* T.S. 1
* R-38

World War II Allied reporting names|

* Cedar
* Clara
* Hickory
* Ida (Ki-36)
* Ida (Ki-55)
* Pat
* Patsy
* Sonia
* Spruce

* v
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Imperial Japanese Army Air Service aircraft designations

1-50|

* Ki-1
* Ki-2
* Ki-3
* Ki-4
* Ki-5
* Ki-6
* Ki-7
* Ki-8
* Ki-9
* Ki-10
* Ki-11
* Ki-12
* Ki-13
* Ki-14
* Ki-15
* Ki-16
* Ki-17
* Ki-18
* Ki-19
* Ki-20
* Ki-21
* Ki-22
* Ki-23
* Ki-24
* Ki-25
* Ki-26
* Ki-27
* Ki-28
* Ki-29
* Ki-30
* Ki-31
* Ki-32
* Ki-33
* Ki-34
* Ki-35
* Ki-36
* Ki-37
* Ki-38
* Ki-39
* Ki-40
* Ki-41
* Ki-42
* Ki-43
* Ki-44
* Ki-45
* Ki-46
* Ki-47
* Ki-48
* Ki-49
* Ki-50

51-100|

* Ki-51
* Ki-52
* Ki-53
* Ki-54
* Ki-55
* Ki-56
* Ki-57
* Ki-58
* Ki-59
* Ki-60
* Ki-61
* Ki-62
* Ki-63
* Ki-64
* Ki-66
* Ki-67
* Ki-68
* Ki-69
* Ki-70
* Ki-71
* Ki-72
* Ki-73
* Ki-74
* Ki-75
* Ki-76
* Ki-77
* Ki-78
* Ki-79
* Ki-80
* Ki-81
* Ki-82
* Ki-83
* Ki-84
* Ki-85
* Ki-86
* Ki-87
* Ki-88
* Ki-89
* Ki-90
* Ki-91
* Ki-92
* Ki-93
* Ki-94
* Ki-95
* Ki-96
* Ki-97
* Ki-98
* Ki-99
* Ki-100

100-|

* Ki-101
* Ki-102
* Ki-103
* Ki-105
* Ki-106
* Ki-107
* Ki-108
* Ki-109
* Ki-110
* Ki-111
* Ki-112
* Ki-113
* Ki-114
* Ki-115
* Ki-116
* Ki-117
* Ki-118
* Ki-119
* Ki-147
* Ki-148
* Ki-167
* Ki-174
* Ki-200
* Ki-201
* Ki-202
* Ki-230

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World War II Allied reporting names for Japanese aircraft

Aircraft in Japanese service|

* Abdul
* Alf
* Ann
* Babs
* Baka
* Belle
* Betty
* Bob
* Buzzard
* Cedar
* Cherry
* Clara
* Claude
* Cypress
* Dave
* Dick
* Dinah
* Dot
* Edna
* Emily
* Eva
* Eve
* Frances
* Frank
* Gander
* George
* Glen
* Goose
* Grace
* Gwen
* Hamp
* Hank
* Hap
* Helen
* Hickory
* Ida (Ki-36)
* Ida (Ki-55)
* Irving
* Jack
* Jake
* Jane
* Jean
* Jerry
* Jill
* Jim
* Judy
* Kate
* Kate 61
* Laura
* Lily
* Liz
* Lorna
* Loise
* Louise
* Luke
* Mabel
* Mary
* Mavis
* Myrt
* Nate
* Nell
* Nick
* Norm
* Oak
* Oscar
* Pat
* Patsy
* Paul
* Peggy
* Perry
* Pete
* Pine
* Rex
* Rita
* Rob
* Rufe
* Ruth
* Sally
* Sally III
* Sam
* Sandy
* Slim
* Sonia
* Spruce
* Stella
* Steve
* Susie
* Tabby
* Tess
* Thalia
* Thelma
* Theresa
* Thora
* Tina
* Tillie
* Toby
* Tojo
* Tony
* Topsy
* Val
* Willow
* Zeke
* Zeke 32

Foreign aircraft
thought to be in Japanese service|

* Bess (Heinkel He 111)
* Doc (Messerschmitt Bf 110)
* Fred (Focke Wulf Fw 190)
* Irene (Junkers Ju 87)
* Janice (Junkers Ju 88)
* Mike (Messerschmitt Bf 109)
* Millie (Vultee V-11)
* Trixie (Junkers Ju 52)
* Trudy (Focke-Wulf Fw 200)

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