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- Thread starter Thorlifter
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- Thread starter
- #25
Thorlifter
Captain
Good job Wojtek. I had no idea...
Old Wizard
2nd Lieutenant
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
That KI-128 falls along the same lines at the KI-115 Tsurugi, which was another "disposable" aircraft designed for Kamikaze attacks.
![NAKAJIMA KI-115 TSURUGI[a].jpg](https://ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/nakajima-ki-115-tsurugi-a-jpg.361977/ "NAKAJIMA KI-115 TSURUGI[a].jpg")
Yep, one problem with it was no shock absorbers on the landing gear so very hard to handle while on the ground if not operating on a finished runway.
vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Yea, I'm thinking that's the least of the pilot's problems! 
Kai Stemm
Airman 1st Class
The ohka is another honorable mention
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
They actually modified the assembly with a simple shock absorber system for the later units - but by war's end, only 105 units had been manufactured, total.
- Thread starter
- #33
Thorlifter
Captain
Ground handling was awful and flight characteristics were even worse.
From Wiki:
The war ended before any flew in combat. Individually, they would have been rather inefficient weapons, but used in waves of hundreds or thousands they could have been quite destructive.
From Wiki:
The war ended before any flew in combat. Individually, they would have been rather inefficient weapons, but used in waves of hundreds or thousands they could have been quite destructive.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The KI-115, KI-128 and a few other types were ordered by the High Command because they were concerned there weren't enough obsolete types available for the invasion of the homeland.
They weren't the greatest of aircraft, but then again, the whole idea was to get a pilot in it, get it airborne and have it at least make it to it's target (which was assumed to be just offshore or on the beachhead).
The atomic bombings brought the war to a close before any of these weapons could be used for what they were intended. Even the Okha wasn't supposed to be deployed long range because that put it and it's mothership at increased risk, but the seriousness of the situation saw them deployed anyway.
They weren't the greatest of aircraft, but then again, the whole idea was to get a pilot in it, get it airborne and have it at least make it to it's target (which was assumed to be just offshore or on the beachhead).
The atomic bombings brought the war to a close before any of these weapons could be used for what they were intended. Even the Okha wasn't supposed to be deployed long range because that put it and it's mothership at increased risk, but the seriousness of the situation saw them deployed anyway.
I am trying to remember off hand without looking it up but wasn't this the aircraft or one of the other Japanese one's that once air born the pilot then jettisoned the landing gear to reduce weight and save on war materials due to it being a one way mission.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
You're right, Paul, the KI-115 did jettison it's undercarriage after T/O and for the reasons you listed.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the KI-128 did, however.
To be honest, I'm not sure if the KI-128 did, however.
I don't think the KI-128 did but could be wrong.
