Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sat Nov 24, 2018 11:34 am
According to Japanese Aircraft Code Names & Designations by Robert C. Mikesh, the Nakajima Ki-115 Tsurugi (Sabre) did not have an Allied code name, as it was never operational. Just FYI.
Randy
Randy
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sat Nov 24, 2018 1:58 pm
Chris Brame wrote:Is it displayed this way because part of the engine mount is missing, or is it too corroded to support the weight of the engine?
Also, what's the rusty gauge on the top right?
If you look at the first photo you can see that the lower forward fuselage is crushed. That happened at least twenty years ago while the plane was being moved around in storage at NASM. They have determined that the work needed to repair the damage would require the replacement of too much historical material. So, we were only allowed to put the airplane back together as far as was possible. This was the best we could do to make the plane look more or less like it would when intact. The wooden tail had also rotted while in storage so we built replica parts of it and one aileron for display.
James
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sun Nov 25, 2018 11:08 am
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sun Nov 25, 2018 1:13 pm
I still say that would make a hella cool homebuilt project. You might want to upsize the wings (and maybe the tailplanes) a bit, and perhaps come up with some sort of cleaner landing gear configuration, and go ahead and enclose the canopy.
I think another one that would make a great homebuilt project would be the Bell P-77--again, with the wings enlarged a bit.
I think another one that would make a great homebuilt project would be the Bell P-77--again, with the wings enlarged a bit.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sun Nov 25, 2018 6:01 pm
jamesintucson wrote:That happened at least twenty years ago while the plane was being moved around in storage at NASM. They have determined that the work needed to repair the damage would require the replacement of too much historical material.
Oh, bravo - nice going NASM!
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sun Nov 25, 2018 6:21 pm
Give it to the guys who did the "Bluebird" rebuild in the Uk.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Sun Nov 25, 2018 9:38 pm
Chris Brame wrote:jamesintucson wrote:That happened at least twenty years ago while the plane was being moved around in storage at NASM. They have determined that the work needed to repair the damage would require the replacement of too much historical material.
Oh, bravo - nice going NASM!
I'd expect nothing less from the folks who still don't have a B-17 on display...43 years after opening their new museum downtown and about 14 since the opening of the Dulles facility.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 12:34 am
Wow! What a score for Pima!! Good job James 
So how long is the loan? Man I am so fascinated by these rare odd development tyes.
So I'm to assume the fuselage bulkheads are made of steel along with a lot of the firewall? Are those a dive flap's inboard?, doesn't look like they move but I don't know. Also is the one fabric covered aileron its original covering? I'm diggin all the wood on the cockpit! That wooden throttle is so cool!!! I would like to know more about this one, John?
Thanks.
So how long is the loan? Man I am so fascinated by these rare odd development tyes.So I'm to assume the fuselage bulkheads are made of steel along with a lot of the firewall? Are those a dive flap's inboard?, doesn't look like they move but I don't know. Also is the one fabric covered aileron its original covering? I'm diggin all the wood on the cockpit! That wooden throttle is so cool!!! I would like to know more about this one, John?
Thanks.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 11:18 am
That seat attachment doesn't look very crashworthy! 
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 12:06 pm
The aircraft were to be made for kamikaze use only, so there wasn't anything in it to keep the pilot protected.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 12:29 pm
What kind of metal preservative is applied to the steel? This loks the type of artifact that will dissappear pretty fast if unprotected.
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 2:48 pm
Michel Lemieux wrote:What kind of metal preservative is applied to the steel? This loks the type of artifact that will dissappear pretty fast if unprotected.
There isn't anything other than a layer of surface rust on the galvanized steel.
James
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Mon Nov 26, 2018 3:15 pm
JohnTerrell wrote:The aircraft were to be made for kamikaze use only, so there wasn't anything in it to keep the pilot protected.
Looks like he had a seat belt!!
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Tue Nov 27, 2018 1:55 pm
Kept the pilot from escaping until the landing gear dropped away.steve dickey wrote:Looks like he had a seat belt!!
Re: Ki-115 at Pima
Tue Nov 27, 2018 2:17 pm
I was just there a couple weeks ago. The Pima continues to be one of, if not the, best private air museum in the U.S. Maybe the world, where else can you go and see the full development of the B-29 family? The Constellation family? The Century Series? Harrier family? On and on.
It's a pretty incredible place. I was surprised to see the Ki-115 and right next to it the two-seat Ohka trainer. Who wouldn't be? With the constant changes and updates, there's always a reason to return and see what's fresh and new.
Many kudos to that team, as it is clear there are a lot of people operating on the same page. And it's a good page.
It's a pretty incredible place. I was surprised to see the Ki-115 and right next to it the two-seat Ohka trainer. Who wouldn't be? With the constant changes and updates, there's always a reason to return and see what's fresh and new.
Many kudos to that team, as it is clear there are a lot of people operating on the same page. And it's a good page.