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Ki-70
Ki-70
General information
Type	Reconnaissance
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Tachikawa Aircraft Company
Status	Prototype
Number built	3
History
First flight	1943

The Tachikawa Ki-70 "Clara" was a high speed photo reconnaissance aircraft that was tested for the Japanese Air Force in prototype form but never entered production. The Ki-70 was the intended successor to the Mitsubishi Ki-46 but was difficult to handle and was slower than the Mitsubishi Ki-46. The Ki-70 was first flown in 1943 but was found unsatisfactory and the program was terminated. Three aircraft were built.

History

In later years the Ki-70 was used to disprove supposed photographic evidence concerning Amelia Earhart's supposed capture by the Japanese before World War II.^{[citation needed]}

Description

Using the familiar layout of aircraft such as the Mitsubishi G3M bomber and its planned predecessor the Mitsubishi Ki-46, the Ki-70 had a twin tail and narrow fuselage, an extensively glazed nose and second cockpit facing aft for the gunner.

Specifications (Ha-104M engine)

(Performance estimated)

Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War ^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 3
Length: 14.5 m (47 ft 7 in)
Wingspan: 17.8 m (58 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.46 m (11 ft 4 in)
Wing area: 43 m² (460 sq ft)
Empty weight: 5,895 kg (12,996 lb)
Gross weight: 9,855 kg (21,727 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 10,700 kg (23,589 lb)
Powerplant: 2 × Mitsubishi Ha-104M (Army Type 4 1,900hp Air Cooled Radial) 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 1,400 kW (1,900 hp) each for take-off

1,350 kW (1,810 hp) at 2,200 m (7,200 ft)

1,201 kW (1,610 hp) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)

Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed metal propellers

Performance

Maximum speed: 647 km/h (402 mph, 349 kn) at 5,400 m (17,700 ft)
Cruise speed: 490 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at 5,400 m (17,700 ft)
Range: 2,480 km (1,540 mi, 1,340 nmi)
Service ceiling: 11,000 m (36,000 ft)
Time to altitude: 5,000 m (16,000 ft) in 5 minutes
Wing loading: 229.2 kg/m² (46.9 lb/sq ft)
Power/mass: 0.288 kW/kg (0.175 hp/lb)

Armament

Guns: 1 x 12.7 mm (0.500 in) MG, 1 x 7.7 mm (0.303 in) MG

References

Notes

^ Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. pp. 257–258. ISBN 0 370 30251 6.

Bibliography

Francillon, Réne J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam, 1970. ISBN 0-370-00033-1.
Francillon, René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam Aeronautical, 1979. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. (new edition 1987. ISBN 0-85177-801-1.)