Mitsubishi Ki-57

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Ki-57 "Topsy"
Type	Transport aircraft
Manufacturer	Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited)
Designed by	Mitsubishi Jukogyo KK Design Team
Maiden flight	August 1940
Introduction	1942
Produced	1940-1945
Number built	406
Developed from	Mitsubishi Ki-21

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft developed in the early 1940s.

Contents 1 Development 2 Variants 3 Operators 4 Specifications (Ki-57-II) 5 References 5.1 Notes 5.2 Bibliography 6 See also

[edit] Development

When in 1938 the Mitsubishi Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of Japan Air Lines. In consequence a civil version was developed and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two 950 hp (708 kW) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines, differed primarily by having the same wings transferred from a mid to low-wing configuration and the incorporation of a new fuselage to provide accommodation for up to 11 passengers. This transport version appealed also the navy, and following the flight of a prototype in August 1940 and subsequent testing, the type was ordered into production for both civil and military use.

This initial production Ki-57-I had the civil and military designations of MC-20-I and Army Type 100 Transport Model 1 respectively. A total of 100 production Ki-57-Is had been built by early 1942, and small numbers of them were transferred for use by the Japanese navy in a transport role, then becoming redesignated L4Ml. After the last of the Ki-51s had been delivered production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful 1,080 hp (805 kW) Mitsubishi Ha-l02 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles and, at the same time, incorporated a number of detail refinements and minor equipment changes. Civil and military designations of this version were the MC-20-II and Army Type 100 Transport Model 2 respectively. Only 406 were built before production ended in January 1945. Both versions were covered by the Allied codename "Topsy".

[edit] Variants

• Ki-57-I Army Type 100 Transport Model 1 - Powered by two 950 hp (708 kW) Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines and a redesigned fuselage to accommodate 11 passengers. About 100 aircraft of this type were built including the civil version.
• MC-20-I - Same as above but built for civil use with Japan Air Lines (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• Ki-57-II Army Type 100 Transport Model 2 - Powered by two 1,080 hp (805 kW) Mitsubishi Ha-l02 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles. Minor equipment and detail refinements were also incorporated. 306 aircraft of this type were produced before the end of production in January 1945.
• MC-20-II - Same as above but built for civil use with Japan Air Lines (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• L4M1 - A small number of Ki-57-IIs were transferred for use by the Japanese navy as transports and were redesignated L4M1.

[edit] Operators

 Japan

• Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

 China

• The last Ki-57 was used as a trainer and retired in 1952.

[edit] Specifications (Ki-57-II)

General characteristics

• Crew: Four (pilot, co-pilot, navigator and radio operator)
• Capacity: 11 passengers
• Length: 16.10 m (52 ft 9¾ in)
• Wingspan: 22.60 m (74 ft 1¾ in)
• Height: 4.85 m (15 ft 11 in)
• Wing area: 70.08 m² (754.36 ft²)
• Empty weight: 5,585 kg (12,313 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,120 kg (20,106 lb)
• Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder air-cooled radial engines, 805 kW (1,080 hp) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 470 km/h (254 knots, 292 mph) at 19,030 ft (5,800 m)
• Range: 3,000 km (1,630 nm, 1,864 miles)
• Service ceiling 8,000 m (26,245 ft)

[edit] References

[edit] Notes

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] See also

Related development

• Mitsubishi Ki-21
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of Japan
• List of aircraft of Japan, World War II
• List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy
  

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