Kawasaki Type 88
Kawasaki Aircraft · Japan · first flew 1927 · bomber
The Kawasaki Type 88 (Army Type 88 Reconnaissance Aircraft) was a twin-engine biplane used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in both reconnaissance and light bombing roles during the late 1920s and 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 10.75 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s Japanese twin-engine biplane reconnaissance/bomber
- BMW VI liquid-cooled inline engines
- Biplane with twin open cockpits
Large twin-engine biplane with strut-braced wings, fixed spatted undercarriage, and twin open cockpits; the engines are mounted in underwing nacelles between the wing pairs.
Specifications
- The Kawasaki Type 88 has a length of 10.75 m (35 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20 m (66 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 210 km/h (130 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed with German assistance, notably from Richard Vogt who worked at Kawasaki, the Type 88 was powered by licence-built BMW VI engines and represented an important step in Japanese military aviation development. It entered service in 1928 and saw action during the early stages of the Second Sino-Japanese War before being replaced by more modern types.
Variants
Produced in two main versions: the Type 88-1 reconnaissance aircraft and the Type 88-2 light bomber, differing in equipment and internal configuration.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force from 1928 through the mid-1930s, seeing operational use in Manchuria and China.
Related aircraft
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