Tachikawa Ki-9

Tachikawa · Japan · first flew 1935 · light aircraft

The Tachikawa Ki-9 was a Japanese Army primary trainer biplane that entered service in the late 1930s and remained in widespread use throughout World War II. Known to the Allies by the reporting name 'Spruce', it was the standard elementary trainer for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	7.9 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

Japanese Army primary trainer biplane
Allied reporting name 'Spruce'
Two-seat tandem open cockpit

Open-cockpit biplane with tandem seating, fixed spatted undercarriage, and a radial engine. Clean lines and aerobatic capability distinguish it from heavier utility types.

Specifications

The Tachikawa Ki-9 has a length of 7.9 m (26 ft).
It has a wingspan of 10.32 m (34 ft).
Its maximum speed is 240 km/h (149 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

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

History

Tachikawa Aircraft Company designed the Ki-9 in response to an IJA requirement for a new primary trainer. It first flew in 1935 and entered service in 1937, replacing older types. The Ki-9 proved robust and easy to fly, making it ideal for training the large numbers of pilots Japan needed as the war expanded. It was built in substantial numbers through the early 1940s.

Variants

The Ki-9 was produced in a single primary variant. Its stablemate the Ki-17 served as a lighter secondary trainer. Production totalled around 2,600 aircraft.

Where you'll see it

Served extensively with the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force as the standard primary trainer from the late 1930s through 1945. Some examples were found throughout Japan, Manchuria, and occupied territories.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.