Kawasaki Ki-56 "Thalia"
Kawasaki Heavy Industries · Japan · first flew 1940 · transport aircraft
The Kawasaki Ki-56 was a Japanese military transport of World War II derived from the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra, built under licence and modified for military use by the Imperial Japanese Army.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.9 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWII Japanese twin-engine military transport
- Based on the Lockheed Model 14 Super Electra
- Served Imperial Japanese Army Air Service as a light transport
Resembles the Lockheed 14 closely — a twin-engine low-wing monoplane with a circular-section fuselage and inward-retracting main undercarriage — identifiable by Japanese military markings and small detail differences from the original.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Ki-56 has a length of 14.9 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.96 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 400 km/h (249 mph).
- Typical crew: 3-4, up to 20 troops.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Japan acquired licence rights to the Lockheed Model 14 before the war, and Kawasaki adapted the design as the Ki-56 for Army transport duties. It first flew in 1940 and served throughout the Pacific campaign carrying personnel and supplies.
Variants
Minor improvements were incorporated into later production batches; the type ran through limited production variants without major structural changes.
Where you'll see it
Used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service throughout the Pacific War; a significant number were operated across the vast theatre of Japanese operations from 1941 to 1945.
Related aircraft
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