Tachikawa Ki-106

1945


FIGHTER	Virtual Aircraft Museum / Japan / Tachikawa

On 8 September 1943, instructions were issued to redesign the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate all-metal single-seat fighter (which see) for wooden construction because of the increasingly critical light alloy supply situation. The task of redesigning the airframe was assigned to the Tachikawa Hikoki which was to collaborate with the Army Aerotechnical Research Institute at Tachikawa. Assigned the designation Ki-106, the wooden fighter was intended to utilise a high proportion of semi-skilled labour in its construction and to be broken down into components to be built by small wood-working shops grouped around designated assembly points. Prototype construction was sub-contracted to Ohjo Koku, but the first of three prototypes was not flown until July 1945. The external characteristics of the Ki-84 were faithfully retained by the Ki-106, apart from some minor revision of the vertical tail, the first prototype being powered by the 2,000 hp Nakajima Ha-45-21 engine and carrying an armament of four 20-mm cannon. Appreciably heavier than the standard Ki-84, the Ki-106 was subjected to various weight saving measures, one of these being a reduction in the armament to two 20-mm cannon, and the second prototype flew with this armament during the last week of the war. Max speed, 385mph (620km/h) at 21,325ft (6 500m). Time to 16,405ft (5 000m), 7.85min. Normal range, 497mis (800 km)plus 1.5 hrs. Empty weight, 6,499 lb (2 948 kg). Loaded weight, 8,5981b (3 900 kg). Dimensions as for Ki-84 apart from height of 11 ft 9VA in (3,59 m).

Specification

WEIGHTS
Take-off weight	3900 kg	8598 lb
Empty weight	2948 kg	6499 lb
PERFORMANCE
Max. speed	620 km/h	385 mph
Range	800 km	497 miles

Comments

Richtofen (AKA The Doktor), e-mail, 10.08.2016 22:18

Jan Hoek late reply to put it mildly, but yes, extremely so.It could out turn a Spitfire with ease, yet was much more rugged and heavily armoured.

huaren, 18.06.2011 10:45

I thought that was good idea to build aircraft under ground, but was not all that interested at the time. I was 20 years old at the time. The undrground facility became a storm shelter before I left for the states in 1956.

Dan G., e-mail, 21.09.2022

huaren

Hello Huaren,

I'm most interested in this incident, any more details or info? Newspaper clippings?

Thanks for your time.

-Dan

Lance Lemcool, e-mail, 17.03.2011 23:09
Looks very much like a P-47 Thunderbolt
reply
Mike Skidmore, e-mail, 29.12.2010 03:49
Fred Watkins email me at mskids001@aol.com, i have thousands of tachikawa ab photos and also have a web site for tachi.
reply

Dan G., e-mail, 21.09.2022

Mike Skidmore

I'm very interested in your Tachikawa AB photos. Any info /pics on the incident cited by Fred Watkins? Thanks for your time.

-Dan

DebtMan, e-mail, 01.10.2010 07:25
The Ki-106 was the all-wood version of the Ki-84 Frank
reply
Fred Watkins, e-mail, 02.09.2010 18:10
When I was stationed at Tachikawa Japan in 1955 a Slick airways freighter parked in front of base ops had one of its main gear fall drop through the parking ramp pavement. Invetigation revealed an underground aircraft factory and there was one aircraft ready to roll off the asssembly line. I thought that was good idea to build aircraft under ground, but was not all that interested at the time. I was 20 years old at the time. The undrground facility became a storm shelter before I left for the states in 1956.
reply

Dan G., e-mail, 21.09.2022

Fred Watkins

Hello Fred,

I'm most interested in this incident, any more details or info? Newspaper clippings?

Thanks for your time.

-Dan

Jan Hoek, e-mail, 20.07.2007 20:37
Was the KI-84 manouvreable at low or high speed due to his butterfly combat flaps?
reply

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