Kawasaki Ki-56

Role: Light transport
Manufacturer: Kawasaki Kōkūki Kogyo KK
Introduction: 1940
Produced: 1940-1943
Number built: 121

The Kawasaki Ki-56 (一式貨物輸送機, Type 1 Freight Transport) was a Japanese two-engine light transport aircraft used during World War II. It was known to the Allies as "Thalia". 121 were built between 1940 and 1943.

Design and development

The Kawasaki Ki-56 was derived from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra aircraft that the Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (The Kawasaki Aircraft Engineering Company Limited) had built under licence. In September 1939 Kawasaki was asked by the Koku Hombu to design an impoved version as Ki-56. A number was also built by the Tachikawa company.

Specifications (Ki-56)

Data from Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft; Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War

General characteristics

Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, & radio operator)
Capacity: 14 passengers
Length: 14.90 m (48 ft 10 in)
Wingspan: 19.96 m (65 ft 6 in)
Height: 3.6 m (11 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 51.2 m� (551 ft�)
Empty weight: 4,672 kg (10,300 lb)
Loaded weight: 8,024 kg (17,692 lb)
Useful load: 2,400 kg (5,280 lb)
Powerplant: 2x� Nakajima Ha-25 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 739 kW (990 hp) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 400 km/h (215 kn, 248 mph) at 3,500 m (11,480 ft)
Range: 3,300 km (1,782 nmi, 2,060 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,250 ft)
Wing loading: 156.7 kg/m� (32.1 lb/ft�)
Power/mass: 0.18 kW/kg (4.05 kg/hp; 8.9 lb/hp)
Time to altitude: 12 min. 38 sec. to 3,000 metres (9,800 ft)

Armament

None

Comparable aircraft

Lockheed Hudson

Bibliography

Francillon, Ph.D., Ren� J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company, 1970 (Second edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Jackson, Robert. The Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft. Parragon, 2002. ISBN 0-75258-130-9.

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia