Kokusai Ku-8

The Kokusai Ku-8-II (国際 ク8 四式特殊輸送機, Kokusai ku 8 yonshiki tokushū yusōki) (Kokusai Army Type 4 Special Transport Glider[1]) was a Japanese military glider used during the Second World War.

Ku-8
Ku-8-II
Role Transport glider
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo K.K
Primary user Imperial Japanese Army Air Service
Number built ~700
Developed from Kokusai Ki-59

Design and development

Design of the Ku-8-II began in December 1941, the glider was essentially a Kokusai Ki-59, with the engines and fuel tanks removed and a modified undercarriage. It was given the Allied code name Goose and later Gander.

A Ku-8-II version that was produced in 1944 used a tubular steel frame structure, and had a hinged nose that could be opened to the side to allow loading. Also, its capacity was increased slightly to carry twenty troops.[2] In total, approximately 700 were built. They were used operationally in the Philippines, primarily to carry supplies.

Variants
  • Ku-8-I:Prototypes.
  • Ku-8-II:Military transport glider. Production version.

Operators
 Japan

Specifications

Data from topsid.com:Kokusai Ku-8-II[3], Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[4], Fighting gliders of World War II[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 20 troops, equipped; mountain howitzer with crew / 1,790 kg (3,950 lb) payload
  • Length: 13.31 m (43 ft 8 in)
  • Wingspan: 23.2 m (76 ft 1 in)
  • Height: 2.96 m (9 ft 9 in)
  • Wing area: 50.5 m2 (544 sq ft)
  • Empty weight: 1,630 kg (3,594 lb)
  • Gross weight: 3,500 kg (7,716 lb)

Performance

  • Never exceed speed: 240 km/h (150 mph, 130 kn)
  • Maximum glide ratio: 15.9:1
  • Maximum towing speed: 224 km/h (139 mph; 121 kn)
gollark: Can you repeat the password?
gollark: How do I sign into this "yemmel" account?
gollark: /pay product@name.kst amount
gollark: https://i.redd.it/rwai0vegcde21.png
gollark: You can\* run your own Krist node!\* you can but it'll break horribly and there is no way to make it work without editing much of the code

See also

Related lists

References
  1. "Japanese Aircraft Designations 1939-1945". rwebs.net. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  3. "Kokusai Ku-8-II". www.topsid.com (in Czech). Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  4. Francillon, Rene (1979). Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Limited. p. 484. ISBN 0 370 30251 6.
  5. Mrazek, James E. (1977). Fighting gliders of World War II. London: Hale. pp. 89-95. ISBN 978-0312289270.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.