Kawasaki Ki-10 "Perry"

Kawasaki Heavy Industries · Japan · first flew 1935 · fighter

The Kawasaki Ki-10 was the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's last biplane fighter, and was among the fastest biplane fighters in the world when it entered service in 1935.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — WingsMid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage7.21 m fuselage
T — TailConventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

A trim biplane with a liquid-cooled inline engine, distinctive I-strut interplane bracing, and spatted fixed undercarriage; the tapered wings and chin radiator under the engine distinguish it from radial-engined Japanese contemporaries.

Specifications

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Entering service in 1935, the Ki-10 served in China during the early stages of the Sino-Japanese War and acquitted itself well against Chinese opposition. It was progressively replaced by monoplane fighters after 1938 but remained in second-line use into the early Pacific War period.

Variants

The Ki-10-I was the initial production version; the Ki-10-II had a more powerful engine and other improvements.

Where you'll see it

Served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in China from 1935; relegated to training and liaison duties by the outbreak of the Pacific War.

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