Kayaba Ka-1

infobox Aircraft
name =Ka-1
type =Autogyro
manufacturer =Kayaba


caption =
designer =
first flight = 26 May 1941
introduced =
produced =1941-
retired =
status =retired
primary user =Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
more users =
number built =240
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Kayaba Ka-1 was a Japanese autogyro, seing service during World War II.

The Japanese Army developed the Ka-1 autogyro for reconnaissance, artillery-spotting, and anti-submarine uses. The Ka-1 was based on an American design, the Kellett KD-1A, which had been imported to Japan in 1939 and further developed, first flying on 26 May 1941. Francillion 1970, pp.144-144.] The craft was initially developed for use as an observation platform and for artillery spotting duties. The Japanese Army liked the craft's short take-off span, and its low maintenance requirements. The production began in 1941 and the first autogyros were assigned to artillery units for artillery spotting. These carried two crewmen: a pilot and a spotter.

Later, the Japanese Army commissioned two small aircraft carriers, Akitsu Maru and Nigitsu Maru, intended for coastal antisubmarine (ASW) duties. The Ka-1 was modified by eliminating the spotter's position in order to carry one small depth charge. Ka-1s also operated from shore bases. There are some information that suggests that the autogyros were responsible for at least one sunken submarine. The two carriers were later sunk by American submarines.

A single Ka-1 was built and tested with a Jacobs L-2 radial engine under the designation Ka-2, but no further production was undertaken.

pecifications (Ka-1)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= copter
jet or prop?= prop
ref=Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War Francillion 1970, p.145.]
crew= 1-2
capacity=
length main=9.2 m
length alt= 30 ft 2⅛ in
span main=12.2 m
span alt= 40 ft 0¼in
height main=
height alt=
area main=117 m²
area alt=10.9 ft²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 775 kg
empty weight alt= 1,709 lb
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 1,170 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 2,574 lb
more general=

engine (prop)=Argus As 10c
type of prop=air-cooled inverted V-8 engine
number of props=2
power main=180 kW
power alt= 241 hp
power original=

max speed main= 165 km/h
max speed alt= 89 knots, 102 mph
cruise speed main= 115 km/h
cruise speed alt= 62 knots,71 mph
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 280 km
range alt= 151 nm, 174 mi
ceiling main= 3,500 m
ceiling alt=11,500 ft
climb rate main= 5 m/s
climb rate alt= 980 ft/min
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* 2x 60 kg (132 lb) depth charges [ Operated as single seater.]
avionics=

References

*Francillion, R.J. "Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War". London:Putnam, 1970. ISBN 370 00033 1.