First flown in prototype form on 20
April 1938, the Tachikawa Ki-36 was a
cantilever low-wing monoplane of all-metal
basic structure, covered by a
mix of light alloy and fabric. Landing
gear was of fixed tailwheel type, the
main units enclosed in speed fairings,
and power was provided by a 336kW Hitachi Ha-13 radial engine.
The two-man crew was enclosed by a
long 'greenhouse' canopy and both
men had good fields of view, that of the
observer being improved by clear-view
panels in the floor. The type was
ordered into production in November
1938 as the Army Type 98 Direct Co-
Operation Plane. Generally similar to
the prototypes, the type was armed
with two 7.7mm machine guns
and introduced the more powerful
Hitachi Ha-13a engine. When construction
ended in January 1944, a total
of 1,334 had been built by Tachikawa
(862) and Kawasaki (472).
The handling characteristics and reliability
of the Ki-36 made the army
realize that it was ideal for use as an
advanced trainer, resulting in development
of the Ki-55, intended
specifically for this role and having
armament reduced to a single forward-
firing machine-gun. Following
the testing of a prototype in September
1939, the army ordered this aircraft as
the Army Type 99 Advanced Trainer;
when production was terminated in
December 1943 a total of 1,389 had
been built by Tachikawa (1,078) and
Kawasaki (311).
Both versions were allocated the
Allied codename 'Ida', and the Ki-36
was first deployed with considerable
success in China. However, when confronted
by Allied fighters at the beginning
of the Pacific War it was found to
be too vulnerable, being redeployed
in China where it was less likely to be
confronted by such aircraft. It was also
considered suitable for kamikaze use
in the closing stages of the war, being
modified to carry internally a bomb of
up to 500kg.
