Kawanishi K-90/KX-2 "Jinpu" (J3K, J6K & carrier-based A8K)

[airman]

During last year of war with Usa, Japan had projected also an airplane named kawanishi a8k , for this plane exist technical data :
engine : Nakajima Homare 21 with 1990 hp
speed : 688 km/h
max quote of altitude : 13000 m
armament : 4 gun with 30 mm

The projected production was stopped by end of war !
from - Japonskie Salomoty Marinarki 1912-1945
ps: you are free to add something about it

 

[Antonio]

Thanks a lot for the info

Antonio

 

[gral_rj]

The A8K was based on the J6K land-based interceptor, but I don't know what other modifications it had other than folding wings, arresting hook and different armament. External shape is the same, or virtually the same as the J6K.

 

[hesham]

Hi,

also the Mitsubishi A8M Rikufu for 20-Shi competition.

 

[EEP1A]

I don't believe that Kawanishi A8K ever existed. In August 1944, the carrier version of Mitsubishi A7M Reppu was cancelled and the only remaining new carrier fighter Kawanishi N1K3-A Shiden-kai was tested aboard IJN aircraft carrier Shinano only once before she was sunk in late November 1944. All Japanese carrier aircraft activities were virtually stopped after November 1944 when Boeing B-29 from Marianas begun bombing Japanese homeland . Therefore no new Japanese carrier fighter projects in 1945, only interceptor projects.
By the way , if you GOOGLE Japanese internet you can easily find many Kawanishi A8K fighters stories in fictitious war sites.

 

[airman]

I don't believe that Kawanishi A8K ever existed. In August 1944, the carrier version of Mitsubishi A7M Reppu was cancelled and the only remaining new carrier fighter Kawanishi N1K3-A Shiden-kai was tested aboard IJN aircraft carrier Shinano only once before she was sunk in late November 1944. All Japanese carrier aircraft activities were virtually stopped after November 1944 when Boeing B-29 from Marianas begun bombing Japanese homeland . Therefore no new Japanese carrier fighter projects in 1945, only interceptor projects.
By the way , if you GOOGLE Japanese internet you can easily find many Kawanishi A8K fighters stories in fictitious war sites.

Kawanishi N1K3-A ( i don't know about this variant !)
Mitsubishi A7M1 and 2 was produced look here http://www.combinedfleet.com/ijna/a7m.htm
Kawanishi A8K remain @ stadium of project
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawanishi_N1K-J

I am sorry ,but also N1K3-A was only a project based on version n1k3-j, only n1k4-A a converted n1k4-J was completed for use in carriers , so the variants n1k3-j and n1k4-j are made in 1945 !

 

[gral_rj]

Kawanishi A8K remain @ stadium of project

Agreed, A8K was a project only, but the project existed, as far as I'm aware.

 

[airman]

I don't believe that Kawanishi A8K ever existed. In August 1944, the carrier version of Mitsubishi A7M Reppu was cancelled and the only remaining new carrier fighter Kawanishi N1K3-A Shiden-kai was tested aboard IJN aircraft carrier Shinano only once before she was sunk in late November 1944. All Japanese carrier aircraft activities were virtually stopped after November 1944 when Boeing B-29 from Marianas begun bombing Japanese homeland . Therefore no new Japanese carrier fighter projects in 1945, only interceptor projects.
By the way , if you GOOGLE Japanese internet you can easily find many Kawanishi A8K fighters stories in fictitious war sites.

on http://www.j-aircraft.com/faq/N1K.htm
we speak 2 N1k3-A and 2 N1K4-A was tested on shinano .
A7M not was cancelled , kawanishi A8k as a project is existed , but never built !
In 1945 was produced 10 A7M and many other projects of aircraft not builded ( not only interceptors)

 

[blackkite]

Kawanishi A8K seems to be modified carrier base Jinpu(陣風).
Following picture and drawings are from Japanese internet site.

 

[T-50]

Hi folks I'm searching for photos of the mock up of the Jinpu fighter projected by Kawanishi.
I know that there are more than one photo exist of this mock up
Ill hope some one can help me with this subject.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! You mean this one?
http://military.sakura.ne.jp/ac/j6k.htm
http://gunsight.jp/a/n-kisyu31.htm
It's flying model.
http://www.catv296.ne.jp/~myergo/club.files/jimpoo.html
And three side view.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Bookend-Ohgai/3853/jnrs/jnrsC314.htm
And off topic.
http://gunsight.jp/c/english/cockpit-e-3D.htm

 

[T-50]

Hi Blackkite San that's the one! thanks for the links!

 

[T-50]

I studied the instrument panel of the Jinpu, and i noticed one thing.
On the left upper side of the panel I see a large round instrument,to me looked it like a radar screen
But a saw on the fuselage no radar antennas .what was the function of this strange instrument?

 

[blackkite]

Hi! You are very sharp eyed guy. Japanese text says it's unknown instrument. And also says that it might be a FK-3 radar screen. FK-3 was developed by Kawanishi. Weight was 60kg, little heavy.

 

[blackkite]

FK-3 was a warning radar. I'm not sure what shape it was.

 

[JFC Fuller]

Interesting, it would have to have been relatively small to fit the Jinpu?

 

[blackkite]

OK I will try to find the image of FK-3 radar. BTW it's very difficult for me.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! No problem at all. It's GEKKO's FD-1 and FD-2 radar. It's not FK-3. FD-1's performance was very poor to use.
Source:Imperial Japanese Navy Warplane. Green Arrow Tokyo. ISBN4-7663-3161-3

 

[T-50]

Hi Blackkite San! these are drawings of the radar system very comparable to the Hirsch geweh from the Germans.these systems were used by the Irving nightfighter.
I know the Japanese were developing also very good magnetron's,without knowing that the British has also magnetron's and vice verse.
So the Japanese have together with the British the lead on magnetron technology. I know the Japanese were developing also a advanced 10cm radar but i don't know the type designation. maybe the F3 type?

 

[blackkite]

Hi! I don't know F3 type radar. Following site shows Japanese ww2 radar. Enjoy.
http://home.e01.itscom.net/ikasas/catalog/catalog.htm
http://home.catv.ne.jp/ss/taihoh/radar/radar8.htm

 

[T-50]

Very nice! Blackkite San thank you I see that the Japanese has their own parabolic antennas

 

[windswords]

J3K or J6K? ???

 

[Pelzig]

The J3K was a design which started in 1942 but since Kawanishi was working on the N1K series, the J3K was seen as inferior and the project was shelved with no prototype built. It would resurface again, with a new engine, as the J6K.

J3K or J6K? ???

 

[Winston]

Thank you kindly Ed.

 

[Hardrada55]

What engine was to power the J3K?

 

[blackkite]

What engine was to power the J3K?

At first Kawanishi planned Nakajima NK9 Homare for J3K's engine, later the IJN ordered Kawanishi to use Mitsubishi HA-43-21 engine with 2 stage super charger, and torque converter. Unfortunately torque converter did not work well, J3K was stopped in early 1943 until to find proper engine.
The following site shows HA-43-42 engine for Shinden interceptor.
http://www.geocities.jp/jp_j7w1_shinden/date/engine-j.html
And J6K1 Jinpu panel.
http://gunsight.jp/c/jinpu-3D.htm
2:FK-3 Radio warning indicator.

 

[lancer21]

I know it's somewat off topic, but may i ask, does the N1K3-A and N1K4-A Shiden-Kais have folding wings aswell, or were they just modified for carrier use by ( presumably ) airframe reinforcements and a tailhook, and probably other small details ?

Thank you.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Shiden-kai's chief designer Shizuo Kikuhara(菊原静男) said that the modified carrier base Shiden-kai（紫電改:modified Shiden） had only hook. She did not have folding wing and reinforced structure. Shizuo Kikuhara joined Shiden -kai test on Shinano(信濃) and saw take off and landing. Test result was good and judged that Shiden-kai could use carrier base fighter. Also Raiden was tested and result was good.
Kyofu（強風）, Shiden（紫電） and Shiden -kai（紫電改） had laminar flow wing which cross section were called LB620515-6075.
(Developed by professor Tani（谷） of Tokyo imperial university（東京帝国大学）.)
Source:MARU magazine,The strongest fighter Shiden-kai.

And carrier Shinano. Shinano was planned to be the No3 battle ship of Yamato(大和) class battle ship,and later converted to world largest carrier at the day.
The nose of this ship was similar to Yamato and Musashi(武蔵).
http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~d98/shinano.html

 

[lancer21]

Many thanks Blackkite for your input , and for Shinano's pics /paintings.
Just one more little query ( and i'm gone! ), out of curiousity what Raiden variant was used for the carrier trials? J2M3 ? Thanks again.

 

[blackkite]

I can't find any information about Raiden type which tested on Shinano.
And modified Shiden-Kai tested on Shinano had a reinforced after structure. I made a mistake.
Recently I find that Raiden marked 671km/h(5,060m with 92 octane fuel+water/methanol injection,emergency power, weight 3,315kg) by American pilot when after war test in Philippine.engine
Sorry off topic.
Source:KOKU FAN's FAMOUS AIRPLANES OF THE WORLD. No.61 NAVY INTERCEPTOR "RAIDEN"1996, page 90.ISBN4-89319-058-X

 

[Nick Sumner]

Blackkite (or anyone else) is there more information regarding the speeds obtained by other Japanese types tested by the Americans with high octane fuel?
Thanks!

 

[blackkite]

Hi!
① Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate(疾風) ： 687km/h(427mph),1946, Middletown airport(140 octane fuel.emergency engine power 1,850hp)
(Altitude 6,096m, Weight 3,397kg)
② Mitsubishi Ki-83： 762km/h, Matsumoto airport, (Altitude 7,000m)
(Japanese record ： 686.2km/h, 8,000m)
③ Kawanishi Shiden-kai(N1K2-J)：669km/h (416mph),(Altitude 5,800m)
(Source: The illustrated directory of fighters(Mike Spick, page218)　
④ Nakajima Saiun(彩雲)：694.5km/h(with 130 octane fuel,Middletown airport, Japanese record:634.9km/h with 92 octane fuel)
⑤ Nakajima Ki-44Ⅱ Shoki(Tojo)（鍾馗）：617km/h(altitude 5,300m)(By U.S Navy test in 1945 with 92 octane fuel)

 

[Nick Sumner]

Thanks Blakkite!

 

[Stargazer]

New topic split from the old "Japanes Projects before 1945" thread...

 

[blackkite]

Hi Jinpu(J6K1) mockup! Enjoy.
Source : Maru magazine special edition "Shiden-kai", 15/1/2009 ,etc

 

[blackkite]

17-shi fighter J3K1 had a Mitsubishi MK9B(HA43-21) non turbo charged engine with 2 stage mechanical supercharger and vulkan coupling. High altitude interceptor experimental Jinpu(J6K1) had a Nakajima NK9AO(HA45-42) non turbo charged engine with forced cooling fan, 2 stage 3 speed mechanical supercharger and intercooler. You can see intercooler air intake or engine air intake located side of the engine nacelle in Jinpu(J6K) mockup.
Top 3 side view may be J3K1.

 

[lancer21]

Greta stuff Blackkite, thanks! One would assume the A8K would be very similar to Jinpu except maybe folding wings, hook etc.?

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Next one.

 

[blackkite]

Hi! Cockpit.
Source : ISBN978-4-7698-1490, Super Zero fighter Reppu, Kojinsha, 2/2/2011

 

[T-50]

Hi Blackkite san
very rare and beatiful photos of the mockup of the Jinpu!,especially the cockpit pic is very awsome I must say!
thanks for sharing these photos!
By the wa I was wondering what aircraft cannon means in Japanese