The Kokusai Ku-7 ''Manazuru'' (真鶴 "
white-naped crane
The white-naped crane (''Antigone vipio'') is a bird of the crane family. It is a large bird, long, about tall, and weighing about , with pinkish legs, a grey-and-white-striped neck, and a red face patch.
Distribution
The white-naped crane br ...
"; Allied code-name Buzzard) was a large experimental
twin boom
A twin-boom aircraft is characterised by two longitudinal booms (extended nacelle-like bodies). The booms may contain ancillary items such as fuel tanks and/or provide a supporting structure for other items. Typically, twin tailbooms support ...
Japanese
military glider
Military gliders (an offshoot of common gliders) have been used by the militaries of various countries for carrying troops (glider infantry) and heavy equipment to a combat zone, mainly during the Second World War. These engineless aircraft were ...
.
Design and development
An enlarged version of the earlier
Maeda Ku-1
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The Maeda Ku-1, long designation Maeda Army Type 2 Small Glider, was a small twin boom Japanese military glider. It was primarily used for training, and was superseded by the Kokusai Ku-7, which was effectively a scaled-up version of ...
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
A light tank is a tank variant initially designed for rapid movements in and out of combat, to outmaneuver heavier tanks. It is smaller in size with thinner armor and a less powerful main gun, tailored for better tactical mobility and ease of ...
. It required a powerful towing aircraft, either the
Nakajima Ki-49
The Nakajima Ki-49 ''Donryu'' (呑龍, "Storm Dragon")Francillon, 1970, p.223 was a twin-engine Japanese World War II heavy bomber. It was designed to carry out day bombing, daylight bombing missions, without the protection of escort fighters. Con ...
or the
Mitsubishi Ki-67
The Mitsubishi Ki-67 ''Hiryū'' (飛龍, "Flying Dragon"; Allied reporting name "Peggy") was a twin-engine heavy bomber produced by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service and Imperial Japanese Navy Air Serv ...
, 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
Phoenix most often refers to:
* Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore
* Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States
Phoenix may also refer to:
Mythology
Greek mythological figures
* Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...
").
Intended for use as fuel transports, only nine, of 300 ordered, were produced before development priorities were shifted elsewhere.
[
]
Variants
*Ku-7: Large experimental military transport glider.
*Ku-7-II: Original designation for the Ki-105.
*Kokusai Ki-105 Ohtori: Long-range fuel tanker aircraft, powered by 2x Mitsubishi Ha26-II 14-cylinder radial engines; nine built. Maximum take-off weight:; normal payload:; cruising speed:; maximum range: .[
]
Specifications (Ku-7)
See also
References
{{Allied reporting names
Ku-07
Ku-07, Kokusai
1940s military gliders
World War II Japanese transport aircraft
High-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1942
Twin-boom aircraft