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Japanese transport aircraft From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s.
| Ki-57 | |
|---|---|
| MC-20-I, with a nickname Asagumo (morning cloud), used by Asahi Shimbun | |
| General information | |
| Type | Transport aircraft Paratroop transport Passenger aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries |
| Primary users | Imperial Japanese Army Air Force |
| Number built | 406 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1940–1945 |
| Introduction date | 1942 |
| First flight | August 1940 |
| Developed from | Mitsubishi Ki-21 |
In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of the Imperial Japanese Airways. In consequence, a civil version was developed and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two 708 kW (950 hp) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines, differed primarily by having the same wings transferred from a mid- to low-wing configuration and the incorporation of a new fuselage to provide accommodation for up to 11 passengers. This transport version appealed also to the navy, and following the flight of a prototype in August 1940 and subsequent testing, the type was ordered into production for both civil and military use.[1]
This initial production Ki-57-I had the civil and military designations of MC-20-I and Army Type 100 Transport Model 1, respectively. A total of 100 production Ki-57-Is had been built by early 1942, and small numbers of them were transferred for use by the Japanese navy in a transport role, then becoming redesignated L4M1. After the last of the Ki-57s had been delivered production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful 805 kW (1,080 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles and, at the same time, incorporated a number of detail refinements and minor equipment changes. Civil and military designations of this version were the MC-20-II and Army Type 100 Transport Model 2, respectively. Only 406 were built before production ended in January 1945. Both versions were covered by the Allied reporting name "Topsy".[2]
Military operators
Civil operators
Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [4]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Related lists
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