Kawasaki Ki-3
Kawasaki Aircraft Industries · Japan · first flew 1933 · bomber
The Kawasaki Ki-3 was a Japanese Army Air Force single-engine light bomber biplane that entered service in 1933. It was a sesquiplane design with an open cockpit and saw operational use in China.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1930s Japanese Army single-engine biplane light bomber
- Sesquiplane configuration with smaller lower wing
- Radial engine with fixed spatted undercarriage
A sesquiplane light bomber with a large upper wing and smaller lower wing, single radial engine, fixed spatted undercarriage, and tandem open cockpits — typical of early 1930s Japanese Army light bombers.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Ki-3 has a length of 10 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The Ki-3 was developed by Kawasaki with German technical assistance, notably from Richard Vogt. It served as the JAAF's primary light bomber from 1933 and saw action during the Second Sino-Japanese War. By the time of the Pacific War it was obsolete and had been replaced by monoplane types.
Variants
The Ki-3 was built in a single main production variant; no major sub-variants were produced.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force from 1933, primarily in China operations, until replaced in the late 1930s.
Related aircraft
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