Kawasaki Ki-5
Kawasaki · Japan · first flew 1934 · fighter
The Kawasaki Ki-5 was a Japanese Army monoplane fighter of 1934, developed in competition against other designs for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's next-generation fighter requirement. It was ultimately not selected for production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Inverted gull wing meeting the fuselage at its lowest point, not a parasol |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1930s Japanese low-wing monoplane fighter with inverted-gull wing
- Inverted gull wing meeting the fuselage at its lowest point, not a parasol
- Fixed spatted undercarriage and open cockpit; lost to the Ki-10 biplane
A clean, relatively modern biplane layout with spatted undercarriage and a fairly high speed for its era; similar to other 1930s Japanese Army fighters but distinguished by its specific wing profile and fuselage lines.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Ki-5 has a length of 7.78 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.6 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 360 km/h (224 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Kawasaki entered the Ki-5 in the Imperial Japanese Army's 1934 fighter competition, which also included designs from Nakajima and Mitsubishi. Despite competitive performance, the Army selected the Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane over the Ki-5. The aircraft demonstrated Japan's growing indigenous aircraft design capability in the mid-1930s.
Variants
Only prototype aircraft were built; no production variants entered service.
Where you'll see it
The Ki-5 saw no operational service, being eliminated during the competitive evaluation process in 1934-1935.
Related aircraft
- Kawasaki Ki-32
- Kawasaki Ki-48
- Kawasaki Ki-60
- Kawasaki Ka 87 (Army Type 87 Heavy Bomber)
- Aero A.102
- ANF Les Mureaux 115
- Arado Ar 68
- Arado Ar 76
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