Yokosuka MXY8 Akigusa
Japanese training glider
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Yokosuka MXY8 Akigusa (秋草, autumn grass) was a training glider built in parallel with the Mitsubishi J8M/K-200 Shūsui rocket-powered interceptor aircraft.
| MXY8 Akigusa | |
|---|---|
| |
| General information | |
| Type | Training Glider |
| National origin | Japan |
| Manufacturer | Yokosuka Naval Air Technical Arsenal |
| History | |
| Variant | Yokosuka MXY9 |
Design and development
The J8M was to have simply been a licence-built Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet, but, due to difficulties in obtaining technical materials from Germany, it eventually had to be designed almost from scratch.[1] The MXY8 was designed in parallel with the J8M to validate the design and then to provide pilot training during the development of the actual interceptor.[2] The Army designation for the type was Ku-13.[3]
The MXY8 was built entirely of wood and fitted with ballast tanks that would be filled with water to simulate the weight and, therefore, flight characteristics of a fully equipped J8M. Some 50-60 of these gliders were eventually built.
A more advanced trainer, the MXY9, equipped with a primitive jet engine was planned but was never produced.[4]
Many sources apply the designation MXY8 to the Yokosuka MXY7 Ohka kamikaze weapon.
Specifications
Data from Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 6.05 m (19 ft 10 in)
- Wingspan: 9.5 m (31 ft 2 in)
- Height: 2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
- Wing area: 17.73 m2 (190.8 sq ft)
Performance
