Mitsubishi Ki.109
Click HERE to see color drawings of the Ki-109
Several experimental versions of the Ki-67 were designed in the last years of the war. The only design of any consequence was the the transformation of the Ki-67 to a heavy fighter. Twenty-two planes of this model, known as the Ki-109, were built. The only differences from the original were in the armament and the forward part of the fuselage. The glassed-in nose was replaced by a faired 75mm cannon. This gun had 15 projectiles. It was to be used against the American B-29s at high altitude. Test results were satisfactory, but by the time a sufficient number of aircraft were ready, there had been a radical change in Allied tactics and the planes were no longer needed, because the B-29s began making night raids at low altitude.
Mitsubishi Ki.109
Type: night fighter / daylight heavy fighter
Service: Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF)
Crew: four
Armament: one forward firing 75mm cannon in nose
one 12.7mm Type 1 machine gun in tail turret
2205 lb (1000 kg) of bombs maximum
Reference: Francillon: 196, Mondey: n/a
Specifications:
Length: 58' 10.75" (17.95 m)
Height: 19' 1" (5.8 m)
Wingspan: 73.82' 10" (22.5 m)
Wing area: 708.801 sq. ft (65.85 sq. m)
Empty Weight: 16,367 lbs (7424 kg)
Loaded Weight: 23,810 lbs (10,800 kg)
Propulsion:
No. of Engines: 2
Powerplant: Mitsubishi Ha-104 18-cylinder radial
Horsepower: 1900 hp each
Performance:
Max Range: 1367 miles (2200 km)
Cruise Speed: n/a
Max Speed: 342 mph (550 km/hr) at 19980 ft
Climb to/in: n/a
Ceiling: n/a
Production: approximately 22 Ki-109s total
Additional information on this aircraft can be found at the Military Factory webpage HERE.
For a very nice scale color drawing of this aircraft, see here.
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