Tachikawa Ki-36

Tachikawa · Japan · first flew 1938 · light aircraft

The Tachikawa Ki-36 was a Japanese Imperial Army two-seat low-wing monoplane designed for army cooperation and light attack duties, first flown in 1938. It served as a primary training and observation aircraft throughout World War II.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Japanese Army two-seat army cooperation monoplane
Fixed undercarriage with large streamlined wheel spats
Tandem glazed cockpits with broad greenhouse canopy

Low-wing monoplane with prominent fixed spatted undercarriage, tandem crew under a broad glazed canopy, and a radial engine with a prominent cowling ring; the very large wheel spats are the most immediately distinctive feature.

Specifications

The Tachikawa Ki-36 has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
It has a wingspan of 11.8 m (39 ft).
Its maximum speed is 348 km/h (216 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed to replace biplane army cooperation types, the Ki-36 entered service with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and saw widespread use in China and later across the Pacific theatre. A trainer variant, the Ki-55, was identical in airframe and became the primary Japanese Army advanced trainer of WWII. In the final stages of the war, Ki-36s were used in kamikaze missions.

Variants

The Ki-55 Ida was the dedicated trainer version; both types were known to the Allies by the reporting name 'Ida'.

Where you'll see it

Operated extensively by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service from 1938 throughout WWII, primarily in China, South-East Asia, and the Pacific.

Related aircraft

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