Kawasaki Ki-78: The Japanese Experimental Plane That Tried To Set A World File

A full-size picket mannequin of the airplane was accomplished in 1941, however that was so far as the college bought with the challenge. With World Conflict II breaking out, the challenge was commandeered by the Imperial Japanese Military, which noticed the Kensan III as a probably precious asset to warfare. Now renamed the Ki-78, the Japanese Military ordered two prototypes from Kawasaki, the primary of which was accomplished in December 1942.

Sadly, the Ki-78’s first check flight was underwhelming. The prototype aircraft was heavier than projected throughout the design section and pilots discovered it tough to manage at low speeds. Some minor tweaks have been made to enhance the Ki-78’s airworthiness and velocity testing started in earnest in April 1943. The plane’s quickest velocity of 435 mph was achieved in December 1943, however that determine was nicely in need of this system’s purpose of 535 mph. Lower than one month later, the complete program was scrapped after 32 whole check flights. For sure, the second prototype was by no means accomplished.

The lone Ki-78 did survive WWII in storage, albeit with a few of its elements lacking, maybe stripped for the warfare effort. However in 1945, it was unceremoniously crushed by an American M7 tank, together with Japanese fighter planes, at a former plane manufacturing unit within the metropolis of Gifu.

[Featured image by San Diego Air & Space Museum via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | No known copyright restrictions]