Unknown plane

[fastmongrel]

Came across this whilst looking for something else and its a new one on me. Looks like a really slick bird possibly its a record plane. No idea what it is or which country apart from its a inverted V12 so German, Italian or Japanese. Looks Italian to me.

 

[johnbr]

It is a Japanese test aircraft from ww-2.

 

[fastmongrel]

It is a Japanese test aircraft from ww-2.

Do you have the name and model number

 

[Graeme]

Kawasaki Ki-78.

 

[stona]

No idea what it is or which country apart from its a inverted V12 so German, Italian or Japanese.

The engine is a DB 601.

Cheers

Steve

 

[WJPearce]

Below is one guy's take on the Ki-78's history.
Kawasaki Ki-78 (KEN III)

 

[stona]

Interesting. Several features make me suspect that the Japanese had been influenced by German design, not just the German engine but the aileron droop (proportional to the flaps) and some others. It sounds like it could have done with leading edge slats making it even more similar to an early Bf 109 !
Cheers
Steve

 

[Thorlifter]

Thus is the fate of experimental planes that don't live up to expectations

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots!

 

[Shinpachi]

Legendary Ken-3 (Ken-san = Lab-3)

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

There's a Wikipedia page that has the same photo that is identified as a Kawasaki Ki-78 in post #4 of this thread. Another photo of the Ki-78 can be found at this link:

https://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=1720

 

[Wurger]

No comment.