Kawasaki C-5
Kawasaki · Japan · first flew 1934 · light aircraft
The Kawasaki C-5 (or KDC-5) was a 1930s Japanese civil high-speed, long-range monoplane built for the newspaper Asahi Shimbun to gather and disseminate news across the Japanese empire.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tailplane mounted at the top of the fuselage and braced from below |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing cantilever monoplane with a large root fairing and rounded tips
- Tailplane mounted at the top of the fuselage and braced from below
- Undercarriage in broad spats that split to act as air brakes
It is all-metal with fabric-covered control surfaces and a licence-built BMW VIIa V-12 engine with the radiator under the engine. The fin is triangular.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki C-5 has a length of 9.13 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.42 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 336 km/h (209 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Asahi Shimbun ordered it from Kawasaki in June 1933. It was a scaled-up, civilianised version of the single-seat Ki-5 fighter, and testing was carried out from 17 to 20 February 1934.
Variants
Only one was built. It was derived from the Kawasaki Ki-5 fighter.
Where you'll see it
At the time it was the fastest Japanese civil aircraft flying, with the greatest range. It was registered by Asahi Shimbun.
Related aircraft
- Kawasaki Ki-5
- Kawasaki Ki-28
- Kawasaki Ki-32
- Kawasaki KDA-5 (Army Type 92 Fighter)
- Addyman STG
- Aero A.200
- Aichi E10A
- Airspeed AS.8 Viceroy
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