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| Intended to meet a requirement formulated in 1943 for an advanced two-seat long-range escort fighter, the Ki-83 was designed by a team headed by Tomio Kubo, who had previously been responsible for the Ki-46. Aerodynamically exceptionally clean and powered by two turbo-supercharged Mitsubishi Ha-211ru 18-cylinder radials, the Ki-83 possessed an armament of two 20mm and two 30mm cannon. The first of four prototypes was flown on 18 November 1944, demonstrating spectacular performance and remarkable manoeuvrability for its size - a 670m diameter loop being executed at 648km/h at 2900m within 31 sec. However, definitive plans for series manufacture of the Ki-83 were still being finalised when hostilities terminated.
| MODEL | Ki-83 |
| CREW | 2 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Mitsubishi Ha-211 Ru, 1650kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 8795-9430 kg | 19390 - 20790 lb |
| Empty weight | 5980 kg | 13184 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 15.5 m | 51 ft 10 in |
| Length | 12.5 m | 41 ft 0 in |
| Height | 4.6 m | 15 ft 1 in |
| Wing area | 33.52 m2 | 360.81 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 705 km/h | 438 mph |
| Cruise speed | 450 km/h | 280 mph |
| Ceiling | 12660 m | 41550 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 2175 km | 1352 miles |
| Range w/max payload | 1953 km | 1214 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 2 x 30mm cannons, 2 x 20mm cannons, 2 x 50-kg bombs |
 | A three-view drawing (752 x 997) |
| Ron, e-mail, 07.11.2016 02:11 A French site gave the Ki 83 ammo load of 100 30mm r /g, 200 20mm r /g. Probably rounding up to the nearest hundred. reply |
| Ron, e-mail, 23.08.2016 03:48 The wing-loading for the Ki 83 is a;; over the place online.
In US testing, the Ki-83 was able to execute a 671 m
(2,200 ft) diameter vertical loop in just 31 seconds at a speed of over 644 km /h during the maneuver.
While a full 360-degree turn at a diameter of 510 m required only 32 seconds.
There is some variation online for the guns.
If the 30mm cannons were 450 rpm Ho-155-I, then they more closely match the firing time of the 20mm Ho-5 at about 11 seconds supply of both types. If it was the 600 rpm
Ho-155-II, the 30mm ammo lasted only 8 seconds. The Ki 83 didn't need this more compact model like the Ki 84-Ic Hayate, in the wings. Also, the site that said it was the 30mm Ho-155-I was in Japanese, so I'm now leaning that way for the Ki 83 nose cannon. That it matches in firing time the 20mm cannons, gives that choice even more credence for the Ki 83.
The ballistics Of both the Ho-5 and Ho-155 were originally a good match at a firing range of 900m. However, we are told Ho-5 quality control suffered as the end approached, so the 20mm cannon may have been closer to 600m range in the Ki 83. reply | | Ron, e-mail, 22.08.2016 05:21 Horse Power /Weight Ratio 0.628
• Wing Loading 28.0lbs /ft2 (136.6kg /m2)
•
Amazing! reply | | Ron, e-mail, 22.08.2016 04:50 "Mitsubishi Ki-83 (flown by a USAAF 1Lt Wright) with the best airspeed: 472mph.
Climb: 4min33sec to 6000m (19,685ft) and
8min58sec to 10000m (32,810ft)!"
That certain caught the attention of the USA. reply |
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| | ron, e-mail, 13.08.2016 13:33 Laminar flow wing, automatic combat flaps, 12mm armor, 10km climb in 10 minutes flat!
2x20mm Ho-5s and 2x30mm Ho-155-II, the fastest cannons in WW2 with 900m range.
Without the observer, performance would be even better.
This should have had the priority over the production of 7,000 obsolete A6M5-A6M7 Zeros. Once the sole engine factory was bombed, it was cooked. This reliable late-war engine was also slated to replace the unreliable Ha-45 in the Ki 84. All the more reason to have more than one factory! This 2300 hp high altitude engine should have been mass produced in underground factories like the Ki 84.
Can you imagine 7,000 Ki 83 and 84s so powered? The B-29s would be at grave risk. reply |
| Jim, e-mail, 10.07.2016 17:04 What was the second crew member for, i.e., did it also have a rear-firing machine gun?
It's always been one of my favorites since I first read about it. reply | | Paul Scott, e-mail, 27.01.2015 22:25 Another fine Mitsibishi aircraft and again, not unlike the Mosquito or P-38 reply | | Glenn, e-mail, 29.02.2012 06:19 I HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL PLANE CUSTOM MADE FOR ME BY A COMPANY CALLED PLANE ARTS. THEY MAKE WW2, MODERN & CUSTOM WOODEN MODELS. MINE'S TAKING FOREVER TO GET HERE!!! THE DAMNED COMPANY IS IN THE PHILLIPENES!! THEY MAY HAVE HELPED US IN WWII, BUT THAT DON'T GIVE EM THE RIGHT TO TAKE THIER SWEET TIME MAILING STUFF!!! reply | | M. Mathiesen, e-mail, 10.09.2011 02:44 What a slender beauty! It manages to make a mosquito look clumsy!
I Would love to see a rc-kit around scale 1:10!
If that wouldn´t sell I don´t know what would. reply | | Glenn Reiley, e-mail, 28.06.2011 05:06 Like Lauren & Mr. Marshal said, THIS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL TWIN, NEIGH, AIRCRAFT /THING EVER BUILT!!! reply | | laurentchik, e-mail, 01.04.2010 17:39 Perhaps the most beautiful twin ever made...! reply | | Jorge G. Riva, e-mail, 19.11.2009 17:27 Dear Sirs;
To me Ki - 83 deserves to produced in 1 /48 scale by Tamiya, or Hasegawa enterprises, due the great step in aerodynamics obtained by Japanese engineers of Mitsubishi.
It is a beautiful aeroplane and I'll be delighted to assamble it.
Best regards!!!
J.G.Riva reply | | Hiroyuki Takeuchi, e-mail, 30.01.2009 02:44 The figure 762km /h (474mph) appears on many Japanese publications as attained by in a post war USAAF test flight. Apparently a primary source is available but not on the internet so far. Please refuer to
www.j-aircraft.org /smf /index.php?topic=3441.msg23811#msg23811 reply | | Peter A. Marshall, e-mail, 31.12.2008 07:10 this aircraft has such a spectacular STANCE on the ground. It looks like it's ready to just "leap into the air. Whatever became of one of the five prototypes that made it to the US in 1945-46'?
Peter A. Marshall
225 Irving Ave. (B-3)
Port Chester, NY. 10573-3955
(914) 939-0927 reply |
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