Encouraged by enthusiastic reports of the German Messerschmitt Me 262 from the Japanese air attache in Berlin, the Japanese naval staff instructed Nakajima to develop a single-seat attack bomber based on the Me 262, capable of a speed of 690km/h and able to carry a small bombload. Design started in September 1944 under the direction of Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumur, and the resulting aircraft resembled the German design although somewhat smaller owing to the very low power available from the early Japanese jet engines. Initially the first prototype Nakajima Kikka (orange blossom) was fitted with a pair of 200kg thrust Tsu-11 ducted-flow engines, but these were quickly replaced by 340kg thrust Ne-12 turbojets. These also proved inadequate and for the first flight two 475kg thrust Ne-20 axial-flow turbojets were fitted; however, it was still necessary to employ an auxiliary rocket for assisted take-off. The Kikka was first flown on 7 August 1945 at Kisarazu Naval Air Base by Lieutenant Commander Sasumu Tanaoka; the second flight ended in damage when Tanaoka abandoned the take-off owing to the ATO rockets being incorrectly mounted. A second prototype was then nearing completion and manufacture of 18 further aircraft had started when, on 15 August, the entire programme was abandoned. Production, which included versions for training, reconnaissance and air combat, had also been planned.

3-View

A three-view drawing (752 x 1141)