Tachikawa Ki-9
| Ki-9 | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| A former Japanese Tachikawa Ki-9 "Spruce" pictured at airfield K-1 in South Korea in 1951 | |
| Role | Training aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd |
| First flight | 7 January 1935 |
| Introduction | 1935 |
| Retired | 1945 |
| Primary user | IJA Air Force |
| Produced | 1934-1945 |
| Number built | 2,618 |
The Tachikawa Ki-9 (九五式一型練習機 Kyūgo-shiki ichigata renshuki?) was an intermediate training aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force built by Tachikawa Aircraft Company Ltd in the 1930s. It was known to the Allies under the nickname of "Spruce" during World War II.
The Ki-9 was a two-seat unequal wingspan biplane design. Tachikawa originally planned to use the same basic airframe for both basic training and intermediate training, differentiating the two models by the use of different engines. The prototype Ki-9 flew on 7 January 1935, powered by a 261 kW (350 hp) nine-cylinder Hitachi Ha-13a radial engine. The second prototype was identical, and the third prototype was powered by a 112 hp (80 kW) Nakajima NZ seven-cylinder radial engine. The third prototype exhibited stability problems due a center of gravity issue, and as a result the primary trainer model was abandoned and the Ki-9 was developed only for the intermediate trainer. Tachikawa subsequently developed the Ki-17 for the primary trainer role. The first production aircraft were delivered in 1935.
The Ki-9 was introduced to service as the Army Type 95-1 Medium Grade Trainer Model A under the former aircraft naming nomenclature system. The first version had a complex split-axle landing gear with fairings over the top of the wheels. In 1939 this was modified and simplified, the fuselage slightly shortened and total weight reduced. The resulting Army Type 95-1 Model B or Ki-9-kai had improved maneuverability and flight characteristics. This version was quickly superseded by the Army Type 95-1 Model C, or Ki-9-otsu in full production.
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