The Tachikawa Ki-55 was a Japanese advanced trainer.
Design and development
The excellent characteristics of the Tachikawa Ki-36 made it potentially ideal as a trainer. This led to the development of the Ki-36 with a single machine gun. After successful testing of a prototype in September 1939, the type was put into production as the Army Type 99 Advanced Trainer.
In all 1,389 Ki-55 were constructed before production ended in December 1943 with Tachikawa having built 1078 and Kawasaki 311.
Both the Ki-55 and the Ki-36 were given the Allied nickname 'Ida.'
Ki-36 : Army cooperation aircraft.
Ki-72 : An evolved version with a 600-hp (447-kW) Hitachi Ha-38 engine and retractable undercarriage. Not built.
Japan
Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
Manchukuo
Manchukuo Air Force
Reorganized National Government of China
National Government of China Air Force received several from the Japanese.
Republic of China
Republic of China Air Force operated captured aircraft.
People's Republic of China
People's Liberation Army Air Force operated more than 30 captured aircraft at the end of 1945. These Ki-55s were used until the last 14 retired in 1953.
Republic of Korea
Republic of Korea Air Force operated ex-Japanese aircraft.
Thailand
Royal Thai Air Force
Francillon also mentions delivery to the Japanese satellite air force of Cochinchina, the southernmost third part of present Vietnam
Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War
General characteristics
Crew: two
Length: 8.00 m (25 ft 3 in)
Wingspan: 11.80 m (38 ft 8.5 in)
Height: 3.64 m (11 ft 11.25 in)
Wing area: 20 m2 (215.29 ft2)
Empty weight: 1,292 kg (2,847 lb)
Loaded weight: 1,721 kg (3,794 lb)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,721 kg (3,793 lb)
Powerplant: 1 × Hitachi Army Type 98 Ha-13a nine cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 380 kW (510 hp) at take-off
Performance
Maximum speed: 349 km/h (217 mph)
Cruise speed: 235 km/h (146 mph)
Range: 1,060 km (659 mi)
Service ceiling: 8,150 m (26,740 ft)
Wing loading: 86.1 kg/m2 (17.6 lb/ft2)
Power/mass: kW/kg (hp/lb)
Armament
one fixed, forward-firing 7.7mm (0.303in) Type 89 machine gun
