Japanese Ki-55 'Ida' in Detail

[ColesAircraft]

At least three ex-Japanese Army Air Force Ki-55/Ki-36 "Ida" aircraft survive today (I say "at least," because there are either two or three survivors in China - nobody seems to know for sure). In each case the aircraft were operated by the indigenous air forces of the nations formerly occupied by the Japanese - Thailand and China, respectively. But the conditions under which these survivors are displayed has precluded anyone from getting close enough to photograph the cockpits - until recently.

No wartime photos or other documentation survives to tell us what the interiors looked like.

These photos are from the Ki-55 survivor in Thailand, and for an unrestored survivor she certainly has a complete set of controls! Only the guns, gunsight, compass and a few instruments are missing.

Enjoy!

[code
Ki55-9 by ColesAircraft, on Flickr][/code]

[code
Ki55-8 by ColesAircraft, on Flickr][/code]

[code
Ki55-6 by ColesAircraft, on Flickr][/code]

[code
Ki55-3 by ColesAircraft, on Flickr][/code]

Yes, the black/gray interior color is its original Tachikawa-applied paint!

Ron Cole