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Ku-8
Ku-8
	Ku-8-II
General information
Type	Transport glider
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo K.K
Primary user	Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Number built	~700
History
First flight	May 22, 1943
Developed from	Kokusai Ki-59

The Kokusai Ku-8-II (国際ク8 四式特殊輸送機, Kokusai ku 8 yonshiki tokushū yusōki) (Kokusai Army Type 4 Special Transport Glider^[1]) was a Japanese military glider used during the Second World War. They were usually towed by Mitsubishi G3M or Mitsubishi Ki-21 aircraft.

Design and development

Design of the Ku-8-II began in December 1941, the glider was essentially a Kokusai Ki-59, with the engines and fuel tanks removed and a modified undercarriage. It was given the Allied code name Goose and later Gander. The prototype was completed on May 20, 1943, and took to the air two days later, on May 22, 1943.^[2]

A Ku-8-II version that was produced in 1944 used a tubular steel frame structure, and had a hinged nose that could be opened to the side to allow loading. Also, its capacity was increased slightly to carry twenty troops.^[3] In total, approximately 700 were built. They were used operationally in the Philippines, primarily to carry supplies.

Variants

Ku-8-I:Prototypes.
Ku-8-II:Military transport glider. Production version.

Operators

Japan

Imperial Japanese Army

Specifications

Data from topsid.com:Kokusai Ku-8-II,^[4] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War,^[5] Fighting gliders of World War II^[6]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Capacity: 20 troops, equipped; mountain howitzer with crew / 1,790 kg (3,950 lb) payload
Length: 13.31 m (43 ft 8 in)
Wingspan: 23.2 m (76 ft 1 in)
Height: 2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
Wing area: 50.5 m² (544 sq ft)
Empty weight: 1,630 kg (3,594 lb)
Gross weight: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
Maximum glide ratio: 15.9:1
Maximum towing speed: 224 km/h (139 mph; 121 kn)

References

^ "Japanese Aircraft Designations 1939-1945". rwebs.net. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
^ "Kokusai Ku.8". www.airwar.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 23 June 2022.
^ *Donaldson, Graham. "The Japanese paratroopers in the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942. Archived from the original on 2015-07-08.
^ "Kokusai Ku-8-II". www.topsid.com (in Czech). Retrieved 18 March 2018.
^ Francillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. p. 484. ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
^ Mrazek, James E. (1977). Fighting gliders of World War II. London: Hale. pp. 89-95. ISBN 978-0312289270.