Post
by Robert Hurst » 16 Jun 2003 15:37
Hi
In August 1932, the Japanese Army had a requirement for a small, light-weight ambulance aircraft, and placed an order for such an aircraft with Ishikawajima. Based on the company's experience with the R-5 trainer, and design concepts found in the imported de Havilland D H 83 Fox Moth* light transport, Ryokichi Endo, with the support of Moriyuki Nakagawa, undert took the project.
The company designated the aircraft KKY, which stood for Kogata Kei Kanja Yusoki or Small Type Light Patient Transport. This 'small type' ambulance was to supplement the 'standard type' which at that time was the Nakajima-Fokker Universal converted for ambulance use. The KKY carried a pilot, stretchers for two patients, a seat for one medical attendant, and medical supplies and equipment stipulated by the Army's Senior Surgeon, Dr Yoshinobu Teraji. The KKY type was designed to operate from small airstrips for emergency evacuations. Low-pressure tyres, having a wider foot-print, were fitted when these aircraft were to be operated from unprepared strips.
Although the first prototype was completed in December 1933, it took a long time to complete flying and serviceability evaluations and make necessary modifications, and it was not until February 1935 that this first KKY was considered acceptable. After still further, but minor modifications, to the first aircraft, a small number of additional aircraft were manufactured from 1936 to 1940.
The KKY was an single-engined biplane. It had a welded steel tube fuselage, wooden unequal-span wings, and an aluminium empennage, which was fabric covered. The aircraft was designed for, and first built with, the Cirrus Hermes Mk.IV inverted inline engine with a metal propeller. Problems continued with the Cirrus engine, and later models from October 1938 were powered by the 150 hp Gasuden Jimpu seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine and equipped with a two-bladed fixed-pitch wooden propeller. The wings, with Clark Y aerofoil section, had the area increased to improve short-field performance. This later version was the KKY-2, Kogata Kei Kanja Yusoki Kaizogata, the last word meaning modified version. By this time the company name had changed to Tachikawa and these aircraft were known by that name.
The KKYs were put into sevice as Aikoku-go aircraft (purchased through private donations) and were widely used in air-evacuation duties during the Sino-Japanese conflict up to the early stages of the Pacific War.
Technical Data (Relates to first prototype)
Manufacturer: Tachikawa Hikoki KK (Tachikawa Aeroplane Co Ltd).
Type Airborne Ambulance.
Crew (2): Pilot & one medical attendant plus two patients.
Powerplant: One 120-135 hp Cirrus Hermes Mk.IV four-cylinder inverted air-cooled inline engine, driving a two-blade fixed-pitch metal propeller.
Dimensions: Span 10 m (32 ft 9 1/2 in); length 7.90 m (25 ft 11 in); height 2.38 m (7 ft 9 1/4 in); wing area 22 sq m (236.813 sq ft).
Weights: Empty 560 kg (1,234 lb); loaded 977 kg (2,154 lb); wing loading 44.4kg/sq m (9.1 lb/sq ft); power loading 7.24 kg/hp (15.9 lb/hp).
Performance: Maximum speed 181.6 km/h (112.8 mph); cruising speed 155.7 km/h (96.7 mph); landing speed 79.7 km/h (49.5 mph); take off/landing distance aprrox 250 m (820 ft); climb to 2,000 m (6,562 ft) in 14 min; service ceiling 4,500 m (14,763 ft); range 620 km (385 miles).
Production: Twenty-three built 1933-1940.
* Three DH 83 Fox Moths had been imported into Japan, of which two had been modified into ambulance aircraft for the Japanese Army.
Regards
Bob
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