Mitsubishi Ki-57

The Mitsubishi Ki-57 was a Japanese passenger transport aircraft, developed from the Ki-21 bomber, during the early 1940s.

Development

In 1938, when the Ki-21 heavy bomber began to enter service with the Imperial Japanese Army, its capability attracted the attention of the Imperial Japanese Airways. In consequence, a civil version was developed, and this, generally similar to the Ki-21-I and retaining its powerplant of two Template:Cvt Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines, differed primarily by having the same wings transferred from a mid- to low-wing configuration and the incorporation of a new fuselage to provide accommodation for up to eleven passengers. This transport version appealed also to the navy, and, following the flight of a prototype in August 1940 and subsequent testing, the type was ordered into production for both civil and military use.

This initial production Ki-57-I had the civil and military designations of MC-20-I and Army Type 100 Transport Model 1, respectively. A total of one-hundred production Ki-57-Is had been built by early 1942, and small numbers of them were transferred for use by the Japanese Navy in a transport role, then becoming redesignated L4M1. After the last of the Ki-57s had been delivered, production was switched to an improved Ki-57-II, which introduced more powerful Template:Cvt Mitsubishi Ha-102 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles and, at the same time, incorporated a number of detail refinements and minor equipment changes. Civil and military designations of this version were the MC-20-II and Army Type 100 Transport Model 2, respectively. Only 406 were built before production ended in January 1945. Both versions were covered by the Allied reporting name Topsy.

Variants

File:Mitsubishi MC-20-II.jpg

MC-20-II with the nickname Hakutsuru (white crane) during the Sino-Japanese war

• Ki-57-I Army Type 100 Transport Model 1: Powered by two Template:Cvt Nakajima Ha-5 KAI radial engines and a redesigned fuselage to accommodate 11 passengers. About 100 aircraft of this type were built including the civil version.
• MC-20-I: Same as above but built for civil use with Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• Ki-57-II Army Type 100 Transport Model 2:Powered by two Template:Cvt Mitsubishi Ha-102 Zuisei 14-cylinder radial engines installed in redesigned nacelles. Minor equipment and detail refinements were also incorporated. 306 aircraft of this type were produced before the end of production in January 1945.
• MC-20-II: Same as above but built for civil use with Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK).
• L4M1: A small number of Ki-57-Is were transferred for test by the Japanese navy as transports and were redesignated L4M1.

Operators

File:Mitsubishi Ki-57 Topsy wrecked.jpg

A wrecked Ki-57 on Honshu in late 1945

Wartime

Military operators

• Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
• Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

Manchukuo

• Manchukuo Imperial Air Force

Civil operators

Japan

• Imperial Japanese Airways (Dai Nippon Koku KK)
• Asahi Shimbun
• Osaka Mainichi Shimbun
• Tyuka Koku Kaisya (in China)

Manchukuo

• Manchukuo National Airways (in Manchuria)

File:Flag of the Republic of China-Nanjing (Peace, Anti-Communism, National Construction).svg Reorganized National Government of China

• One MC-20 used as presidential transport

Template:Country data Second Philippine Republic

• One MC-20 used as presidential transport

Post-war

• The last Ki-57 was used as a trainer and retired in 1952.

• Imperial Japanese Airways (till October 1945)

• Captured aircraft, used by the KNIL.

Accidents and incidents

• On 20 December 1940, an Imperial Japanese Airways MC-20-I (J-BGON, Myuko) crashed into Tokyo Bay off Chiba during CAB's test flight, killing all 13 on board including 8 CAB inspectors.
• On 21 June 1941, a Manchurian Air Transport MC-20 (M-604) crashed into the Sea of Japan, killing all 18 on board.

Specifications (Ki-57-II)

File:Mitsubishi Ki-57 3-view line drawing.png

3-view drawing of the Mitsubishi Ki-57

See also

Related development

• Mitsubishi Ki-21

Related lists

• List of aircraft of Japan during World War II
• List of aircraft of the Japanese Navy
• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of military aircraft of Japan

References

Bibliography

• Francillon, Ph.D., René J. The Mitsubishi Ki-21 (Aircraft in Profile number 172). Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
• (new edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, Template:ISBN); 3rd edition 1987 by Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1987. Template:ISBN).

External links

• Classic Airplane Museum MC-20 Japanese
• JCAL MC-20 Template:Webarchive Japanese