eBay: Nakajima J8N-1/J9Y Kikka

[Capt. Vick]

Try the National Archives in College Park, Maryland. Very helpful.

 

[johnbr]

One-half left front view of a Nakajima Kikka jet fighter on a factory floor. Panels on the left engine have been removed. An American officer and two Japanese men stand next to the aircraft. Partially built Nakajima G8N1 Renzan Rita bombers are visible in the background.

 

[johnbr]

 

[Wurger]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Wurger]

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[johnbr]

The Kikka prototype jet aircraft were the firsts of the type for Japan. Although the effort to embark on a design for jet fighters was indeed inspired by the German firm Messerschmitt's successes with the Me 262 fighters, the Kikka design was created by Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura from the ground up without German assistance, the only exception being the Ishikawajima Ne-20 powerplant which was based on the German BMW 003 axial flow turbojet engine. The prototype conducted its first ground test on 30 Jun 1945, and in Jul 1945 it was disassembled for transport to Kisarazu Naval Airfield. On 7 Aug, it flew for the first time with Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka in the cockpit. On 11 Aug, a second test flight was scheduled, but it came to a sudden end when rocket assisted take off (RATO) equipment caused the aircraft to crash into a drainage ditch. At this point, the second prototype was close to completion, while between 18 and 25 more examples were under construction. The Kikka aircraft were designed to be high speed interceptors, but in the final weeks of the war, Japanese Navy leadership seriously considered to use them as special attack, ie. suicide, weapons despite of their high production cost. As the war ended within days of the takeoff accident, none would see combat action. At least 3 of the under-construction Kikka aircraft were taken by the United States for further studies, and they were likely taken apart to form the partial frame currently on display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, United States. Two Ne-20 jet engines were given to the Chrysler Corporation in 1946 for further studies; this fact was not revealed until 2005 (by lead engineer W. I. Chapman).

 

[johnbr]

Kikka Timeline
30 Jun 1945 The first Kikka jet aircraft commended ground tests.
7 Aug 1945 The Japanese Nakajima J9N-1 Kikka (Orange Blossom) naval special attack jet aircraft made its maiden flight at Kisarazu Naval Airfield in Japan with Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka at the controls.
11 Aug 1945 The J9N-1 Kikka prototype jet fighter was damaged at Kisarazu Naval Airfield in Japan after a RATO-related take-off accident and the war ended before repairs could be completed.
7 Apr 1947 Chrysler Corporation, after having studied the Japanese Ne-20 turbojet engine which was originally designed for the Kikka jet aircraft, submitted an official report to the US military.


SPECIFICATIONS

Kikka

Machinery Two Ishikawajima Ne-20 turbojet engines rated at 4.66 kN (475 kgf) each
Armament 2x30mm Type 5 cannon, 1x500kg or 1x800kg bomb
Crew 1
Span 10.00 m
Length 9.25 m
Height 2.95 m
Wing Area 13.21 m²
Weight, Empty 2,300 kg
Weight, Loaded 3,950 kg
Weight, Maximum 4,088 kg
Speed, Maximum 696 km/h
Service Ceiling 12,303 m
Range, Maximum 1,778 km

 

[Wurger]

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff.

 

[johnbr]

Nakajima Kikka on the ground, 1945. The left engine is exposed.View attachment 469564

 

[Wurger]

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots guys!

 

[Wayne Little]