Designed to a 1937 requirement, the Toryu (Dragon Killer) was a twin-engined heavy fighter that became one of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force's most important warplanes. The first of six prototype and 12 pre-production aircraft flew in January 1939, but considerable development had to be undertaken before the type entered service in autumn 1942 with 1050hp (783MA) Nakajima Ha-25 radial engines as the Ki-45 Kai-a fighter and Ki-45 Kai-b ground-attack/anti-shipping fighter.

Kawasaki Ki-45 Kai Toryu "Nick" without wings. I don't know why this aircraft of all the others was on display without wings--no explanation. Either the museum doesn't have the wings at all, or this is under continuing restoration. The Frankfort TG-1A hangs above.

The Ki-45 Kai-c was a night-fighter development and introduced Mitsubishi engines, while the Ki-45 Kai-d was a ground-attack/anti-shipping model with revised armament including provision to carry 500kg (1102lb) of bombs. Production of the Ki-45 Kai-c reached 477 aircraft, and that of the other three variants 1198 machines.

Country of origin: Japan
Type: (Ki-45 Kai-c) two-seat night-fighter
Powerplant: two 1080hp (805kW) Mitsubishi Ha-102 (Army Type 1) 14-cylinder two-row radial engines
Performance: maximum speed 540km/h (336mph); climb to 5000m (16,405ft) in 7 minutes; service ceiling 10,000m (32,810ft); range 2000km (1243 miles)
Weights: empty 4000kg (8818lb); maximum take-off 5500kg (12,125lb)
Dimensions: span 15.02m (49ft 3.25in); length 1 1.00m (36ft 1 in); height 3.70m (12ft 1.75in)
Armament: One 37mm fixed forward-firing cannon in underside of forward fuselage, two 20mm fixed obliquely forward/upward-firing cannon in central fuselage, and one 7.92mm trainable rearward-firing machine gun in rear cockpit, plus a bomb load of 500kg (1102lb)

Specs and description from: Aircraft of WWII by Chris Chant (Fiedman/Fairfax, 1999, ISBN: 1-58663-303-1), a handy book covering 300 aircraft.

UHC Displays