T-4
Kawasaki · Japan · first flew 1985 · fighter
The Kawasaki T-4 is a Japanese twin-turbofan intermediate jet trainer that also equips the Blue Impulse aerobatic team.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Fuselage side intakes at the wing root |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine intermediate jet trainer
- Fuselage side intakes at the wing root
- Tandem stepped canopy
Look for a compact twin-engined jet with high swept wings, air intakes set against the fuselage sides and a stepped tandem canopy.
Specifications
- The T-4 has a length of 13 m (43 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.94 m (33 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 1038 km/h (645 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed indigenously to replace the Lockheed T-33 and Fuji T-1, the T-4 first flew in 1985 and entered service later that decade. It is powered by a pair of home-grown Ishikawajima-Harima F3 turbofans.
Variants
The standard T-4 serves in the training role, while a specially finished version equips the Blue Impulse display team. A number of aircraft are also used as liaison and general support hacks.
Where you'll see it
Several hundred serve the Japan Air Self-Defense Force as its principal jet trainer; it has no UK service, where the comparable role belongs to the BAE Hawk.
Related aircraft
- OH-1 Ninja
- P-X (P-1)
- C-X (C-2)
- Kawasaki Ki-100
- Boeing (GAF) F/A-18B Hornet
- British Aerospace Harrier II GR.5
- Chengdu JJ-7
- GAIC JJ-7 (FT-7)
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