KI-8

The Nakajima Ki-8 was a Japanese low-wing prototype fighter from the interwar period. The drive was provided by a single engine Nakajima Ha-1 Kotobuki 550 hp. The prototype flight took place in May 1934 - the machine never entered mass production. The deck armament consisted of three 7.7 mm machine guns. The Nakajima Ki-8 was created as part of a competition in 1933 announced by the Army Air Force Command, which was interested in acquiring a completely new, two-seater low-wing fighter. Taking part in this competition, the Nakajima factory developed the Ki-8 aircraft, which featured seagull wings (similar to the German Ju-87 Stukas, for example) and an all-metal structure. However, during the test flights, the Nakajima Ki-8 turned out to be a failed plane. First of all, it was characterized by an average maximum speed, considerable problems with maintaining stability in horizontal flight and a huge number of defects and faults resulting from careless execution of the aircraft. All these disadvantages meant that the machine never entered serial production. Only five prototype units were built.