Mitsubishi Ki-18
Mitsubishi · Japan · first flew 1935 · fighter
The Mitsubishi Ki-18 was a Japanese Army single-seat fighter prototype of the mid-1930s, developed in response to an Imperial Japanese Army specification for a high-speed fighter. It competed unsuccessfully against the Kawasaki Ki-10.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.66 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early 1930s Japanese Army fighter prototype
- Single radial engine low-wing monoplane
- Lost competition to Kawasaki Ki-10
Clean low-wing monoplane with tapered wings, fixed spatted undercarriage, and a closely cowled radial engine; typical of mid-1930s Japanese fighter prototypes.
Specifications
- The Mitsubishi Ki-18 has a length of 7.66 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 444 km/h (276 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Mitsubishi in 1934–1935 and first flown in 1935, the Ki-18 was a clean low-wing monoplane powered by a Kotobuki radial engine. Despite achieving impressive speed figures, the Army preferred the biplane Ki-10, favouring manoeuvrability over speed — a decision that would prove costly years later.
Variants
Only a single prototype was built; no production variants followed.
Where you'll see it
The Ki-18 never entered production or operational service, having lost the evaluation to the Kawasaki Ki-10.
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- Curtiss P-36 Hawk
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