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MEET THE Ki-61: Called the "Flying Swallow" by the Japanese, and "Tony" by the Americans, the Kawasaki Ki-61 Type 3 Fighter / Interceptor represented a departure from traditional Japanese aircraft design since it used a liquid-cooled engine instead of an air-cooled radial engine, and was designed for speed and durability, instead of nimbleness and manueverability. As a result, Japanese military leaders spurned it initially, while seasoned pilots, noting its armour and self-sealing tanks, embraced it with a sigh of relief and eagerness. Early models tangled with P-38s and Mustangs, and later models could fly as high as 30,000 feet to meet the USAAF B-29s head on. Today, only a handful survive, but in its heyday, over 100 were rolling off the assembly line every month. Armed with guns and cannons in various combinations, it was a fierce fighter plane, and its smooth, graceful design places it among the most beautiful planes ever made. |
Our Kawasaki Ki-61 "Tony" Collection features a wide array of products available today celebrating the achievements of this beautiful airplane, including--
- AUTHORITATIVE BOOKS, PERIODICALS, and RESEARCH MATERIALS
- PLASTIC MODEL KITS and DETAIL ACCESSORIES
INTERESTING Ki-61 "Flying Swallow" FACTS
Compiled by Frank Cutler
- DESIGNER: The Ki-61 was designed by Takei Doi and his deputy, Shin Owada. It took flight in 1941 and entered military service soon after. A Ki-61 were seen by the Doolittle raiders, in fact, on April 18, 1942, but was mistakenly identified as a Bf 109 by USAAF Capt. C. Ross Greening, since it did not resemble the radial-engine fighters most American pilots were familiar with.
- VOICE OF EXPERIENCE: Designer Doi wrote two books that would be very interesting to read, if they were translated from Japanese They are Fifty Years Recollections on Aircraft Design (October, 1989) and Story of Warplane Development (August, 2007).
- NICKNAME: The Ki-61 US nickname started out as “Mike,” but was later changed to “Tony” since the Ki-61 looked similar to an Italian fighter, the Macchi C.202, and Tony is short for “Antonio,” a name commonly associated with Italy.
- SELF-FUELING TANKS: The Ki-61 used self-sealing fuel tanks, and many pilots sighed in relief as a result, since most other Japanese fighters did not have them and would catch on fire quickly when their fuel tanks were hit with enemy fire.
- FLY OFF: Kawasaki was initially criticized by high-ranking Japanese officials for making a “heavy” plane with a high wing loading instead of a light, nimble, maneuverable fighter, so Kawasaki quickly arranged a “fly off” competition with a Bf 109E-7, a captured P-40E, a Russian LaGG-3, and two prototype Japanese light-fighter darlings of the time, a Nakajima Ki-43 and a Nakajima Ki-44. The Ki-61 proved superior in speed to all, and was only less maneuverable than the Ki-43.
- WELCOMING ARMS: Veteran Japanese pilots, on the other hand, welcomed the new, heavier fighter, with its armor and speed. Experience had taught them that maneuverability was overrated since American fighter pilots adopted a “hit and run” strategy against them anyway—flying from above, firing, then diving away. They never engaged in a tight-turning fight. Now, with the Ki-61, the playing field was becoming more level. The Japanese no longer needed to dance; instead, they could now chase, climb, dive, and spar.
- RETALIATION: The later versions, the Ki-61-II KAI a’s and b’s, could fly high enough to pick a fight with the B-29 Super Fortresses at 30,000 feet. They were powered by the new 1,500 hp Kawasaki HA-140, built at the Akashi engine factory. On January 19, 1945, however, B-29s from the US 20th Air Force, completely destroyed that factory during an air raid. This forced Kawasaki to reconfigure 274 airframes with a different engine, the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II air-cooled radial engine, thus creating the Kawasaki Ki-100 Army Type 5 Fighter.
DESIGN VARIATIONS
Compiled by Frank Cutler
- Ki-60
- Flight tests March, 1941
- Parallel development with Ki-61
- Project abandoned after disappointing results
- Too slow
- Lacked maneuverability
- Qty. built: 3
- Ki-61 Prototypes
- Flight tests, December, 1941
- Benefited from Ki-60 lessons
- Aerodynamic refinements
- Wing increased in size and span
- 20 mm wing guns on Ki-60 replaced with either 12.7 mm or 7.7 mm guns
- Increased fuel capacity
- Landing gear track widened
- Qty. built: 12
- Ki-61-I – Army Type 3 Fighter Model 1 Hien (Flying Swallow)
- The 13th prototype became the first production unit, rolling off the assembly line in August, 1942.
- First, Second, and Modification Production Runs
- Qty built: 1,380 including both “a” and “b” variants.
- Wing armament upgrade
- Some 388 “a” and “b” variants were upgraded on the Kawasaki assembly line to carry a German 20 mm cannon instead of guns. This cannon, the Mauser MG 151/20, had to be installed on its side, and wing modifications were required to absorb the extra recoil force.
- First Production Run
- Ki-61-Ia / Ki-61-I-Ko
- Armament: 4 guns
- Nose: two 12.7 mm guns
- Wings: 7.7 mm gun in each wing
- Fully retractable tail wheel
- Armament: 4 guns
- Ki-61-Ia / Ki-61-I-Ko
- Second Production Run / Second Generation
- Ki-61-Ib / Ki-61-I-Otsu
- Armament: 4 guns
- Nose: two 12.7 mm guns
- Wings: one “Ho-103” 12.7 mm machine gun in each wing
- Fixed tail wheel (retraction mechanism proved unreliable on Ki-61-I-Ko)
- Mauser upgrade variant: Ki-61-I Hei
- Wing armament: one Mauser MG 151/20 cannon in each wing
- Armament: 4 guns
- Ki-61-Ib / Ki-61-I-Otsu
- “Kai” Modification Runs
- “Kai” is short for “kaizon,” meaning “modified.”
- Modifications
- New, longer fuselage with detachable section and fixed tail wheel
- Stronger wings, allowing for pylons outside of undercarriage locations
- Underwing store options
- Two drop tanks
- Two 550 lb bombs
- Underwing store options
- Qty built: 1,274 including both “c” and “d” variants.
- Ki-61-I KAI c / Ki-61-I-Tei “Fighter”
- Most common version, with production during 1944 exceeding 100 per month, except for December. The biggest production month was 254 units in July.
- Armament: 2 guns and 2 cannons
- Nose: two “Ho-5” 20 mm cannons
- Wings: one “Ho-103” 12.7 mm machine gun in each wing
- Ki-61-I KAI d “Interceptor”
- A “specialized, anti-bomber version”
- Armament: 2 guns and 2 cannons
- Nose: two “Ho-103” 12.7 mm machine guns
- Wings: one “Ho-105” 30 mm cannon in each wing
- Ki-61-I KAI c / Ki-61-I-Tei “Fighter”
- Ki-61-II Prototypes
- Designed around a new engine, the 1,500 hp Kawasaki Ha-140, and incorporating a new wing and modified cockpit, this version first flew in December, 1943, but proved disappointing. The new engine was prone to overheating and unreliability, and the new wing demonstrated in-flight instability.
- Qty built: 8
- Designed around a new engine, the 1,500 hp Kawasaki Ha-140, and incorporating a new wing and modified cockpit, this version first flew in December, 1943, but proved disappointing. The new engine was prone to overheating and unreliability, and the new wing demonstrated in-flight instability.
- Ki-61-II – Army Type 3 Fighter Model 2
- Going back to the drawing board, designer Takeo Doi reverted to the original wing after the Ki-61-II prototypes proved unsatisfactory, but he stuck with the new engine. He also extended the fuselage again and increased the size of the rudder. The airplane used the Ha-140 engine, built in a factory at Akashi, Japan.
- Maiden flight: April, 1944
- Wow! This version had some punch.
- Great rate of climb: an altitude of 16,450’ could be attained in six minutes, and it could fly as high as 30,000’, putting it high enough to battle B-29 Super Fortresses.
- Great speed: 379 mph
- Wow! This version had some punch.
- Qty built: 404 including both “a” and “b” variants.
- Production Run
- Ki-61-II KAI a
- Armament: two guns and two cannons (same as Ki-61-I c)
- Nose: two “Ho-5” 20 mm cannons
- Wings: one “Ho-103” 12.7 mm machine gun in each wing
- Armament: two guns and two cannons (same as Ki-61-I c)
- Ki-61-II KAI b
- Armament: four 20mm canons
- Two in the nose, one in each wing
- On January 19, 1045, the Ha-140 engine factory was destroyed, so 275 remaining airframes were converted to house the Mitsubishi Ha-112-II radial engine, thus creating the KI-100 Army Type 5 Fighter.
- Armament: four 20mm canons
- Ki-61-II KAI a
- Production Run
SOURCES
- “Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (Swallow) “Tony,” www.historyofwar.org. See http://bit.ly/2lpisl9.
- “The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien & Ki-100,” www.airvectors.net. See http://bit.ly/2mE7A71.
- “Kawasaki Ki-61,” www.wickipedia.com. See http://bit.ly/2mrMmWH.
Enjoy this compilation of social media posts related to the Ki-61.
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Fantastic! One of the most beautiful airplanes ever!
Posted by Killer Bee Hobby on Saturday, February 4, 2017
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