MITSUBISHI KI46-III TYPE 100 COMMANDANT RECONNAISSANCE-PLANE (DINAH) INTERCEPTOR '16TH COMPANY INDEPENDENCE FLIGHT'

The Mitsubishi Ki-46 is a Japanese twin-engine reconnaissance and fighter aircraft with a metal low wing structure from the Second World War. The prototype flew in the air for the first time in 1939, and serial production started a year later. At the beginning of the war, the Ki-46 was the main reconnaissance aircraft of the Army Air Force. He served in Manchuria, New Guinea, Malaya and flew over Australia. In 1943, the development of an interceptor version began. The result was the Ki-46 III Kai, which entered service at the end of 1944. He used min. two 37mm cannons, one firing at an angle downwards and the other one firing at an angle upwards. Same as in the German Schrage Musik. However, due to poor performance and lack of armor, the Ki-46 did not prove itself as a "conqueror" of the B-29. Technical data (version Ki-46-II): length: 11m, wingspan: 14.7m, height: 3.88m, maximum speed: 604km / h, maximum range: 2470km, maximum ceiling 10700m, armament: fixed - 1 rifle machine gun Type 89, caliber 7.7 mm.