World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe Nakajima Aircraft Company had originally intended the AT-2 design to be a civilian transport, and indeed the first 32 examples built were operated by airliners Dai Nippon Koku KK and Manchukuo National Airways for routes between Tokyo, Japan and Xinjing, puppet state of Manchukuo; Tokyo, Japan and Tianjin, occupied China; and various airports within the puppet state of Manchukuo (these civilian airliners would remain in civilian service until the end of WW2). The demands of war soon led to a military variant of this transport aircraft, designated Ki-34 by Nakajima and Type 97 Transport by the Japanese Army. The first 19 military variants were built by Nakajima, but bulk of the production responsibility were then transferred to Tachikawa, which built a further 299 examples; the Manshu Aircraft Company in Manchukuo also built a small number of examples. Production of Ki-34 aircraft ceased in 1942 after 351 examples were built, but they remained in service as transports, liaison aircraft, and paratrooper delivery aircraft until the end of the war. Later in the war, the Japanese Navy operated a small number of them; the Japanese Navy designated them Type AT-2 Transport or L1N1 Transport.

ww2dbaseThe Allied code name for the Ki-34 design was "Thora".

Ki-34 Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

Ki-34

Machinery	Two Nakajima Kotobuki 2-1 9-cyl air-cooled radial engines rated at 710hp each
Armament	None; capacity for 8 passengers
Crew	3
Span	19.81 m
Length	15.30 m
Height	4.15 m
Wing Area	49.20 m²
Weight, Empty	3,500 kg
Weight, Loaded	5,250 kg
Speed, Maximum	360 km/h
Speed, Cruising	310 km/h
Service Ceiling	7,000 m
Range, Normal	1,200 km

Photographs