Kawasaki Ki-60

Utilizing a license-built Daimler Benz DB-601 engine, Kawasaki designed this fighter based upon what they had learned about European air combat experience. However, the Japanese Army Air Force eventually rejected the Ki-60 in favor of the same company's Ki-61, which was deemed to have better handling characteristics.

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The Japanese curiously imported a 1,175 h.p.Daimler Benz DB601, which was to be manufactured as the Kawasaki Ha 40.
In the meantime the Imperial Japanese Army had issued a requirement for a heavily armed fighter to feature this engine. In view of the fact that virtually the entire Japanese military engine usage was radial engines, only went to show that this project was doomed to fail. Overweight with more than twice the wing loading of the Ki27 and Ki43 the aeroplane had too long a take off run and the control responses were heavy. The spin characteristic was described as "dangerous". Never fulfilling it's design performance the machine was cancelled after only three models had been completed, giving way to the Ki61.

Span 34'6" Length 27'9" Height 9'10" Empty Weight 4,740lb
Max Speed 348 mph Service Ceiling 32,800 ft

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Hmmm have you ever seen a Mustang?

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including dimensions which appear to be in centimeters. Using these dimensions,they compare very closely to the length and wingspan of the first KI-60. Is there any interent in this notebook? I believe that it has historical value.

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That is amazing. If you could scan that notebook place those pictures on the web, it would be much appreciated

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I have a notebook, which I believe belonged to a Japanese aircraft inspector for the first KI-60 prototype. It is dated June, 1940 and the only other english appearing in this notebook is "Inspector in Shisaku, Kaneko 1940 - June". My father brought this notebook back from Japan after his time there during the Occupation. He was a member of the 25th Infantry Division. The rest of the book contains day by day entries, in Japanese, from May thru June, 1940. There are many very detailed drawings of the aircraft's subassemblies, airfoils, structural members, tables, calculations, etc... including dimensions which appear to be in centimeters. Using these dimensions,they compare very closely to the length and wingspan of the first KI-60. Is there any interent in this notebook? I believe that it has historical value.

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