Kawasaki C-5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Kawasaki C-5 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Civil Communucations aircraft |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki |
| Designer | Shegeti Naito |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 17 February 1934 |
The Kawasaki C-5 (or KDC-5) was a 1930s Japanese civil high speed long range monoplane built for the Japanese Asahi Shimbun newspaper to gather and disseminate news across the Japanese empire.
In June 1933 the Asahi Shimbun ordered a fast, long range communications aircraft from Kawasaki Aircraft Industries (川崎航空機工業株式会社, Kawasaki Kokuki Kogyo K.K.), resulting in the Kawasaki KDC-5, which was commonly referred to as the C-5. It was a scaled-up, civilianised version of the single-seat monoplane Kawasaki Ki-5 fighter with enclosed seating for its two crew and single passenger.[1]
The C-5 was a low wing cantilever monoplane with an all metal structure and a metal covering with fabric covered control surfaces. The wings had a large root fairing, and tapered to rounded tips with part of centre section trailing edge cut away.[1]
It was powered by an unsupercharged BMW VIIa V12 engine built under licence by Kawasaki, with the radiator mounted under the engine. A navigator's cockpit was provided behind the pilot, while an unglazed space between them could accommodate a passenger or equipment. The C-5's tailplane was mounted at the top of the main fuselage structure and braced from below. Its fin was triangular, carrying a straight-edged, upright rudder. Both rudder and elevators were balanced.[1]
It had a fixed tailwheel landing gear. The undercarriage legs and most of the wheels were enclosed in broad spats, unusual only in that behind the legs they were split into inner and outer panels that could be opened on landing to act as air brakes. The wheels were fitted with conventional brakes.[1]
