Tachikawa Ki-74

Ki-74
Role Long Range Reconnaissance Bomber
Manufacturer Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd
Designer Jiro Tanaka (in the final stage of the development from the summer of 1944 until August 1945)[1][2][3]
First flight March 1944
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Number built 16


The Tachikawa Ki-74 was a Japanese experimental long-range reconnaissance bomber of World War II. A twin-engine, mid-wing monoplane, it was developed for the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force but did not enter service.

Development

Though already conceived in 1939[4] as a long-range reconnaissance aircraft capable of reaching west of Lake Baikal when operating from bases in Manchukuo (Manchuria), the prototype Ki-74 (designated as A-26 by Tachikawa) only first flew as late as in March 1944; it was powered by two 1,641 kW (2,201 hp) Mitsubishi Ha-211-I [Ha-43-I] radial engines. The following two prototypes were powered by the turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-211-I Ru [Ha-43-II], but as these experienced teething troubles, the following thirteen pre-production machines substituted the Ha-211 Ru engine for the lower-powered, but more reliable, turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-104 Ru (Army Type 4 1,900 hp Air Cooled Radial).[5]

Operational history

The Ki-74 did not see operational service. Nevertheless, the Allies knew of its existence and assigned the type the codename "Patsy" after it was discovered that it was a bomber, not a fighter. Previously it had the code name "Pat" in Allied Intelligence.[6]

Specifications (Ki-74)

Data from The Imperial Japanese Secret Weapons Museum ;[7] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[6]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes

Bibliography

  • Francillon, René J. (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. Putnam Aeronautical. ISBN 0-370-30251-6. 
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