World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe KDA-2 aircraft began their careers as the Japanese Army Type 88-1 Reconnaissance Biplane. They were designed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries chief engineer Richard Vogt in the mid-1920s, and the maiden flight was taken in 1927. A light bomber variant, Type 88 Light Bomber, entered production one year later, featuring reinforced lower wing and lower fuselage to carry a light payload of bombs. When production ceased in 1932, 710 reconnaissance aircraft and 407 light bombers were built for a total of 1,117 (which did not include the about 5 prototype aircraft). In the mid-1930s, Manshu Aircraft Company in the Japanese-sponsored puppet state of Manchukuo license-built a small number of the KDA-2 aircraft. KDA-2 reconnaissance aircraft and light bombers saw actions in the early phases of the war against China, but by 1940 they were considered obsolete and were withdrawn from service.

SPECIFICATIONS

KDA-2-II

Machinery	One BMW VI engine rated at 600hp
Armament	1x7.7mm forward Type 89 machine gun, 1x7.7mm flexible Type 89 machine gun, externally-mounted bombs
Crew	2
Span	15.00 m
Length	12.80 m
Height	3.40 m
Wing Area	48.00 m²
Weight, Empty	1,800 kg
Weight, Loaded	2,850 kg
Speed, Maximum	221 km/h
Service Ceiling	6,200 m

Photographs