Nakajima Ki-27

The Nakajima Ki-27, Type 97, was a WW2 fighter aircraft in service with the Imperial Japanese Army between 1938 and 1945. It was a very maneuverable, easy-to-fly, and reliable fighter. However, it was not as fast as other Japanese combat aircraft, such as the Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien, which would be introduced a couple of years later. The Ki-27 was popularly known by the pilots as the 97 Sen. By December 1941, it was already available in greater numbers than any other in Japanese service.

The prototype Ki-2701 first flew on October 15, 1936, at Ojima airfield. On December 28, 1937, after twelve months of testing the prototypes, the Army finally gave authorization for mass production under the official designation of Army Type 97, Model A, which was the Nakajima Ki-27a, entering service in March 1938. Thus, the Army discarded the Kawasaki Ki-28 prototype, which was also competing for acceptance.

The Ki-27b would be the second version of the aircraft, which would introduce some refinements, including a further improved cockpit canopy. Nobody could have guessed that 3,399 Type 97 aircraft would be produced before production came to a halt in 1942. This Japanese fighter aircraft first saw combat action in China, during the Sino-Japanese War.

For the first two years, the Nakajima Ki-27 was the master of the skies over China until it was confronted by the faster Soviet Polikarpov I-16. This Japanese fighter would also take part in the Japanese invasion of Burma in early 1942, not only securing air supremacy but also providing fire support to Japanese ground troops with ground-attack missions. Thus, this monoplane, with fixed landing gear, made many Japanese Army's aces as it had considerable success fighting against the Allies' in the initial stages of the war. However, by 1943, it had been relegated to be used as a trainer for pilot students.

Technical Characteristics

The Nakajima Ki-27 was a single-seat, single-engine monoplane, with short and compact fuselage. It had low, cantilever wing, with dihedral front profile. The wing leading edge was straight, while its trailing edge tapered toward the tip. The landing gear was fixed, with wheels set up on the inner portion of wing. The aircraft was powered by one Nakajima Ha-1b, 9-cylinder, radial piston engine, producing  710 HP.

Specifications (Ki-27a)

Type: Army fighter aircraft

Length: 7.53 m (24 feet, 8 inches)

Wing Span: 11.31 m (37 feet, 1.3 inches)

Wing Area: 18.55 m2 (199.68 square feet)

Height: 3.25 m (10 feet, 8 inches)

Powerplant: one 710-HP, Nakajima Ha-1b, 9-cylinder engine.

Maximum Speed: 470 km/h (292 mph)

Range: 1,710 km (1,063 miles)

Armament: two 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns.

Below, the Nakajima Ki-27b version flying as a trainer.

A squadron of Ki-27s flying over Burma in 1942.

Below, the Ki-27b variant, as part of 1st Squadron, 84th Independent Fighter Company, flying over South China in 1940.