Kawasaki KDC-2
Kawasaki · Japan · first flew 1928 · airliner
The Kawasaki KDC-2 was a 1920s Japanese light civil transport developed from the Kawasaki Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft. Two were built and flown in 1928.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 11.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay biplane with rectangular wings and N-form interplane struts
- Radiator hung below the nose of the BMW VI V12 engine
- Open pilot cockpit behind the upper wing trailing edge ahead of an enclosed four-seat cabin
An all-metal single-bay biplane with fabric-covered wings, ailerons on both upper and lower wings, and a V-strut-braced tailplane mounted on top of the fuselage.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki KDC-2 has a length of 11.19 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.3 m (47 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 222 km/h (138 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Imperial Maritime Defense Volunteer Association ordered two light passenger aircraft from Kawasaki to be loaned to the Asahi Shimbun newspaper, which was sponsoring a Tokyo-Osaka air service. Because the route is over water, the ability to fit floats was specified. The two aircraft were completed by October 1928 and flew soon after.
Variants
It could operate as a landplane or on floats, and the cabin could be reconfigured for mailplane or photo-reconnaissance duties. Float operations required a larger, deeper rudder.
Where you'll see it
They were briefly operated between Tokyo and Osaka before the Asahi Shimbun organised the All Japan City-Visiting Flight in 1929. They then flew regular mail flights between Tokyo and Niigata, and carried couriers into Manchuria in 1931. The second aircraft was retired in April 1935 after 723 flying hours.
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- Kawasaki KDA-5 (Army Type 92 Fighter)
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