Kawasaki C-1

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Kawasaki C-1

JASDF C-1 displayed at Komaki AB
Type Military Transport
Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Maiden flight 12 November 1970
Introduced December 1974
Primary user Japan (27)
Number built 31
Unit cost $40 million / ¥4.5 billion (approx.)

The Kawasaki C-1 is a twin-engined short-range STOL military transport, used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Development on it began in 1966 as the JASDF sought to replace its aging, World War II–era C-46 Commandos, production in 1971, and it remains in use today.

Contents

[edit] Development

In 1966, the JASDF transport fleet was composed primarily of Curtiss C-46 Commandos, a retired midwar American design built in large numbers before the end of World War II. While relatively capable for its time, the C-46 did not fare well in comparison to newer aircraft such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and the JASDF therefore elected to replace it with a domestically-designed and -manufactured transport aircraft.

For this purpose, they turned to the Nihon Aircraft Manufacturing Company, a consortium of several major corporations, which had begun to produce commercially its YS-11 airliner four years earlier. NAMC decided that Kawasaki Heavy Industries was to be the prime contractor, and the airplane thus bears that company's name. Fully developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Japanese design, this aircraft has been used as military transport for the Japan Self Defense Forces since its maiden flight in November of 1970.

Japanese policies at the time on military equipment were strict in that they were not to have offensive capabilities, and so the maximum range was cut in order to keep the aircraft's operational range inside Japan. This proved to be a problem after Okinawa was returned to Japan from the US, and the aircraft had trouble reaching the island from distant areas. Thus production was terminated and the C-130 was introduced.

[edit] Operational history

The Kawasaki C-1 has been in use since 1974. An aircraft yet to be presented is to replace the service of the C-1 by 2010 to provide a new range of military transport services for the Japan Self Defense Forces.

[edit] Variants

  • XC-1: Prototypes.
  • C-1/C-1A: Medium-range military transport version.
The last five C-1s ordered were fitted with an additional 1,250 gallon (4,730 liter) fuel tank.
  • EC-1: EW training aircraft.
  • C-1FTB: Flight test bed used for testing various equipment.
  • Asuka: Experimental STOL transport aircraft, powered by four turbofan engines and making use of the Coandă effect.
The only example built is currently on display in Kakamigahara Museum in Gifu, Japan.

[edit] Specifications (Kawasaki C-1)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Five (pilot, copilot, navigator, flight engineer, loadmaster)
  • Capacity: 60 soldiers, 45 paratroopers, 36 patients with medics, or cargo
  • Length: 95 ft 2 in (29 m)
  • Wingspan: 100 ft 4 in (30.58)
  • Height: 32 ft 9 in (9.99 m)
  • Wing area: 1,297 ft² (120.5 m²)
  • Empty weight: 53,450 lb (23,320 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 85,320 lb (38,700 kg)
  • Useful load: 17,420 lb (7,900 kg)
  • Maximum load: 26,240 lb (11,900 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 99,200 lb (45,000 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2× Mitsubishi-built Pratt & Whitney JT8D-M-9, 14500 lbf (64.5 kN) each

Performance


[edit] See also

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