Nakajima Ki-116

Ki-116

Manufacturer: Manshūkoku Hikōki Seizo KK
First flight: 1945
Primary user: Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built: 1
Variants: Nakajima Ki-84

The Nakajima Ki-116 was a late-World War II aircraft developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. It was essentially a Ki-84 Hayate with the Nakajima Ha-45 engine replaced with a Mitsubishi Ha-112. The design was handled by Mansyū (満州) Aircraft in Manchukuo, and thus it is often designated Mansyū Ki-116.

Design and develpment

The Ki-116 was essentially the last variant of the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate to enter flight trials. It was originally the fourth Mansyu-built Ki-84-I, and adapted to take a 1,500 hp Mitsubishi Ha-112-II (aka Kinsei 62) engine, the same engine as used in the Kawasaki Ki-100, driving a three-blade popeller borrowed from a Mitsubishi Ki-46-III Dinah. This conversion proved to be very successful, and a reduction of 1,000 lb in empty weight being registered. The aircraft was still undergoing tests at the time of Japan's final defeat. The plane seemed to have been somewhat longer and had an increased tail surface area as compared to the original Ki-84.

This plane was created as a fighter-interceptor . There is no indication this aircraft was intended for the Special Attack suicide role (shimbu-tai).

One aircraft built at Manshūkoku Hikōki Seizo KK at their plant in Harbin in 1945.

Specifications

No performance figures were mentioned for this version and could be considered comparable to standard Ki-84.

Related development

Ki-84
Ki-106
Ki-113

Bibliography

Aeronautical Staff of Aero Publishers Inc. Nakajima KI-84 (Aero Series 2). Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, Inc., 1965. ISBN 0-81680-504-0.
Bueschel, Richard M. Nakajima Ki.84a/b Hayate in Japanese Army Air Force Service. Reading, Berkshire, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-044-6.
Caruana, Richard J. "The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate" Article and scale drawings. Scale Aviation Modeller International. Volume 10 Issue 10 October 2004. Bedford, UK.
Francillon, Ph.D., René J. The Nakajima Hayate (Aircraft in Profile number 70). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1966.
Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company, 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
Fearis, P. "The Emperor's Wings; The Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate." Article and scale drawings. Scale Aviation Modeller. Volume 2 Issue 1 January 1996. Bedford, UK.
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Three: Fighters. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (seventh impression 1973). ISBN 0-356-01447-9.
Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: Japanese Army Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1977. ISBN 0-354-01068-9.
Taylor, John W. R. Combat Aircraft of the World: from 1909 to the present. New York, NY: Paragon Books, 1969.
Wieliczko, Leszek A. Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate. Lublin, Poland: Kagero, 2005. ISBN 83-89088-76-2. (Bilingual Polish/English)

Nakajima Ki-116 Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia