With its 1,500 hp Kawasaki Ha-140 liquid-cooled engine mounted
behind the cockpit and driving a tractor propeller via an extension
shaft, the Kawasaki Ki-88 was inspired by the Bell P-39 Airacobra
of the US Army Air Forces. Proposed armament comprised a 37 mm
(1.46 in) cannon in the propeller shaft and two 20 mm (0.79 in)
cannon in the lower section of the nose. Design of the Ki-88 was
undertaken in August 1942 but, following the inspection of a
full-scale mock-up, development was discontinued within a year as
its calculated maximum speed of 600 km/h (373 mph) at 6,000 m
(19,685 ft) was only slightly higher than that of the Ki-61 already
in production. Span 12.4 m (40 ft 8 3/16 in); length 10.2 m (33 ft
5 9/16 in). Loaded weight 3,900 kg (8,598 lb).
At last, a Japanese hub-cannon fighter!
ReplyDeleteHigh altitude no less.
Ki 45 firepower packed in a single engine fighter.
B-29, fear not, the Ki 88 was rejected in 1943.
I believe Kawasaki should've at least put the 30mm Ho-155-II cannon in the late-war Ki 61-II. Only 44kg! 600 rpm cycle rate! Double the firing range of the Mk 108 Luftwaffe 30mm cannon! In the hub, recoil would not damage the wings like it did to the Ki 61-Id. Accuracy would be unsurpassed too.