Kokusai Ku-7

Ku-7 Manazuru
Ki-105 Otori
Role Transport glider (Ku-7)
Transport aircraft (Ki-105)
National origin Japan
Manufacturer Kokusai






The Kokusai Ku-7 Manazuru (真鶴 "white-naped crane"; Allied code-name Buzzard) was a large experimental twin boom Japanese military glider.

Design and development

An enlarged version of the earlier Maeda Ku-1 glider, it was developed during 1942. The use of a twin boom design allowed for a large square cargo door, which meant that the aircraft was capable of carrying either 32 soldiers, 7600 kg of cargo or even a light tank. It required a powerful towing aircraft, either the Nakajima Ki-49 or the Mitsubishi Ki-67, which were in short supply. As a result, the aircraft were modified by fitting them with engines, which were designated the Ki-105 Otori (鳳 "Phoenix").[1] Only nine[2] were produced before development priorities were shifted elsewhere.

Variants

Specifications (Ku-7)

Data from Encyklopedia Uzbrojenia;[3] Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War[2]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. Donaldson, Graham (2000). "The Japanese paratroopers in the Dutch East Indies, 1941-1942". The Netherlands East Indies 1941-1942., access date 29 April 2007.
  2. 1 2 Francillon 1979, p. 485.
  3. Skrzypacz, Marcin (2005). ""Kokusai Ku-7 "Manazuru" in Encyklopedia Uzbrojenia". Archived from the original on May 17, 2008. via archive.org
Bibliography
  • Francillon, Ph.D., René J. Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1970 (2nd edition 1979). ISBN 0-370-30251-6.
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