Tachikawa Ki-9

Infobox Aircraft
name=Ki-9


caption=Tachikawa Ki-9
type= training aircraft
manufacturer=Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd
designer=
first flight=7 January 1935
introduced=1935
retired=1945
status=
primary user=IJA Air Force
more users=
produced=2,615+
number built=
variants with their own articles=The nihongo|Tachikawa Ki-9|九五式一型練習機|Kyūgo-shiki ichigata renshuki was an intermediate training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies under the code name of "Spruce" during World War II.

Design and Development

The Ki-9 was a two seat unequal wing biplane design. Tachikawa originally planned to use the same basic airframe for both basic training and intermediate training, differentiating the two models by the use of different engines.The prototype Ki-9 flew on 7 January 1935, powered by a Convert|261|kW|hp|-1|abbr=on Hitachi Ha-13a radial engine. The second prototype was identical, and the third prototype was powered by a Convert|112|hp|kW|-1|abbr=on Nakajima NZ seven-cylinder radial engine. The third prototype exhibited stability problems due a center of gravity issue, and as a result the primary trainer model was abandoned and the Ki-9 was developed only for the intermediate trainer. Tachikawa subsequently developed the Ki-17 for the primary trainer role. The first production aircraft were delivered in 1935.

Operational history

The Ki-9 was introduced to service as the Army Type 95-1 Medium Grade Trainer Model A under the former aircraft naming nomenclature system. The first version had a complex split-axle landing gear with fairings over the top of the wheels. In 1939 this was modified and simplified, the fuselage slightly shortened and total weight reduced. The resulting Army Type 95-1 Model B or Ki-9-kai had improved maneuverability and flight characteristics. This version was quickly superseded by the Army Type 95-1 Model C, or Ki-9-otsu in full production.

Both versions were used widely for blind-flying training with a folding hood over the rear cockpit, and several were modified with a glazed canopy over the rear cockpit for use as a staff officer transport plane.

Production by Tachikawa totaled 2,395 aircraft, ending in 1942. At least another 220 Ki-9s were constructed by Tokyo Gasu Denki from 1943-1945.

The Ki-9 was also flown in wartime by Japanese satellite countries and postwar by the fledgling government of Indonesia, and captured units by the Republic of China.

Variants

* Ki-9 (Army Type 95-1 Medium Grade Trainer Model A): Initial version two-seat intermediate trainer aircraft.
* Ki-9-ko (Army Type 95-1 Medium Grade Trainer Model B): Improved version.
* Ki-9-otsu (Army Type 95-1 Medium Grade Trainer Model C): Standard production version.

Operators

Military operators (World War II)

;flag|Japan
* Imperial Japanese Army Air Force;flag|Manchukuo
*Manchukuo Air Force;flag|Thailand
* Royal Thai Air Force; Nanjing Nationalist Government
* Reformed Republic of China Air Force

Military operators (postwar)

;IDN
*Indonesian Air Force;flag|Republic of China
*Republic of China Air Force;flag|South Korea
*Republic of Korea Air Force

pecifications ( Ki-9 Model A)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop

ref={Virtual Aviation Museum}

crew=2
capacity=
length main= 7.9 m
length alt= 25 ft 11 in
span main= 10.32 m
span alt= 33 ft 10 in
height main= 3.1 m
height alt= 10 ft 2 in
area main= 24.5 m²
area alt= ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 1,120 kg
empty weight alt= 2,468 lb
loaded weight main= kg
loaded weight alt= 3,482 lb
useful load main= kg
useful load alt= kg
max takeoff weight main= 1,580 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 3,482 lb
more general=
engine (prop)=Hitachi Ha-13a radial
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main= 261 kW
power alt= 350 hp
power original=
max speed main= 240 km/h
max speed alt= knots, 149 mph
cruise speed main= km/h
cruise speed alt= knots, mph
stall speed main= km/h
stall speed alt= knots, mph
never exceed speed main= km/h
never exceed speed alt= knots, mph
range main= km
range alt= nm, mi
ceiling main= 5,800 m
ceiling alt= 19,030 ft
climb rate main= m/s
climb rate alt= ft/min
loading main= kg/m²
loading alt= lb/ft²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= W/kg
power/mass alt= hp/lb
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=
similar aircraft=
*de Havilland Tiger Moth

lists=
* List of military aircraft of Japan

References

Notes

Bibliography

* 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

* [http://www.aviastar.org/air/japan/a_nakajima.html Virtual Aircraft Museum]