Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien "Tony"
Kawasaki Aerospace Systems · Japan · first flew 1941 · fighter
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien ('Flying Swallow') was the only Japanese fighter of World War II powered by a liquid-cooled inline engine, giving it an appearance quite unlike Japan's radial-engined fighters. Allied reporting name was 'Tony'.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.94 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Only Japanese fighter with a liquid-cooled inline engine in WWII
- Allied reporting name 'Tony'
- Mistaken for P-40 or Bf 109 due to inline engine appearance
Distinctive narrow cowling and radiator bath under the nose from its Kawasaki Ha-40 liquid-cooled engine; low-wing layout and tapered wings are reminiscent of European inline-engine fighters.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien has a length of 8.94 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12 m (39 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 591 km/h (367 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in December 1941, the Ki-61 entered service in 1943 and quickly proved a capable adversary at altitude. Engine supply problems and maintenance difficulties plagued operations, and many airframes were eventually converted to take radial engines as the Ki-100.
Variants
Ki-61-I was the initial variant; Ki-61-I KAI improved armament. The Ki-61-II had a longer fuselage and more powerful engine but was produced in small numbers. Many Ki-61-I airframes were re-engined to become the Ki-100.
Where you'll see it
Operated by JAAF units in New Guinea, the Philippines, and the Japanese home islands; regarded as one of Japan's best fighters at altitude but hampered by engine reliability issues.
Related aircraft
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