JAPANESE FIGHTER KAWASAKI KI-10 I

The Kawasaki Ki-10 is a Japanese metal-structure single-seat biplane fighter with a solid-classic landing gear from the initial period of the Japanese-Chinese war. It is considered the best Japanese biplane fighter of the 1920s and 1930s. The Ki-10 was a return to the biplane after unsuccessful attempts with the Ki-5 low wing of 1934. The ki-10 biplane was designed by Takeo Doi with the assistance of Isamu Imachi. In March 1935, the first prototype was built, in September the plane was put into mass production as a Type 95 fighter. However, because the military demanded better maneuverability of the plane, in parallel with production, from December 1935, work was carried out on the Ki-10-II variant, which entered mass production after being built in October 1937, 300 aircraft. By the end of production in December 1938, 280 Ki-10-II aircraft were built. The producer was Kawasaki plants. The Ki-10 in both variants was a fighter unit of the Japanese army until 1940. However, it was inferior to enemy planes. Japanese aviation suffered as much as 38% of its losses in air combat. During this period, the USSR provided China with min. 400 modern aircraft and over 200 Soviet airmen died during the fighting on the Chinese side. Four prototypes were used in the Type 95 Fighter's upgrade program. They flew with different engines, changed wings, and a closed pilot's cockpit. They achieved a speed of 425 km / h, then even 445 km / h, but that was the end of their development, as they returned to the monoplane system. Technical data: length: 7.2 m, wingspan: 10.02 m, height: 3 m, maximum speed: 400 km / h, maximum range: 1100 km, maximum ceiling 10000 m, armament: fixed - 2 machine guns type 89, caliber 7.7 mm .