Kawasaki Ki-102

Infobox Aircraft
name = Ki-102



caption = Kawasaki Ki-102b assault plane Model b
type = Fighter
national origin = Japan
manufacturer = Kawasaki Aircraft Engineering
designer =
first flight = 1944
introduction = 1944
retired = 1945
status =
primary user = Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built = 238
program cost =
unit cost =
developed from = Kawasaki Ki-96
variants with their own articles =

The Kawasaki Ki-102 was a Japanese warplane of World War II. It was a twin-engined, two-seat, long-range heavy fighter developed to replace the Ki-45 Toryu. Three versions were planned: the Ki-102a day fighter, Ki-102b ground attack and Ki-102c night fighter.This aircraft's Allied reporting name was Randy.

It entered service in 1944, but saw limited action. The main type(102b) was kept in reserve to protect Japan, although it did see some limited duty in the Okinawa campaign. It was kept out of front line service because it was hoped that it would be the carrier of the Igo-1-B air-to-ground guided missile when the Allied invasion of Japan occurred.

Versions

;Ki-102:prototypes, 3 built;Ki-102a:Externally similar to the 102b, but with turbosuperchargers that enabled the engine to maintain its' rating at higher altitudes. 57mm cannon was swapped in favor of a 37mm cannon, and the 12.7 rear gun was deleted, 26 built.;Ki-102b:Ground-attack variant similar to prototypes, except with revised tail wheel, 207 built.;Ki-102c:Night Fighter version with lengthened fuselage and span. Radar under a Plexiglas dome, oblique firing 20mm cannons, and the 20mm cannons in the belly replaced with 30mm cannons completed the package, 2 built.;Ki-108:High-altitude fighter prototype with pressurised cabin, two conversions from Ki-102b aircraft using the structural improvements used on the 102c.

pecifications (Ki-102b)

aircraft specifications/switch
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War [cite book|last=Francillon|first=René|year=1970|title=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|pages=page 137]

crew=2
length main=37 ft 7 in
length alt=11.45 m
span main=51 ft 1 in
span alt=15.57 m
height main=12 ft 2 in
height alt=3.70 m
area main=366 ft²
area alt=34 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main=10,900 lb
empty weight alt=4,950 kg
loaded weight main=16,000 lb
loaded weight alt=7,300 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=

engine (prop)=Mitsubishi Ha-112-II Ru
type of prop=14-cylinder radial engine
number of props= 2
power main=1,100 kW
power alt=1,500 hp

max speed main=310 knots, 360 mph
max speed alt=580 km/h
max speed more=
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
cruise speed more=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
stall speed more=
range main=1,100 nm, 1,200 mi
range alt=2,000 km
range more=
ceiling main=33,000 ft
ceiling alt=10,000 m
climb rate main=2,340 ft/min
climb rate alt=714 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=5.4lb/hp
power/mass alt=2.4kg/hp

guns=
** 1× 57 mm (2.24 in) Ho-401 cannon~replaced in the 102a with a 37mm cannon, deleted in the 102c
** 2× 20 mm (0.787 in) Ho-5 cannon~replaced in the 102c with 30mm cannons
** 1× 12.7 mm (0.50 in) Ho-103 machine gun~deleted in the 102a and 102c
* Stores= 2 200 litre drop tanks or 2 551 lb bombs

ee also

aircontent
related=*Kawasaki Ki-96

similar aircraft=

lists=

see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Green, William. "Warplanes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters". London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.