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Kyushu J7W1 Shinden (Magnificent Lightning)
Technical Information

Background
Designed by Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) Captain Masaoki Tsuruno of the Navy Technical Staff envisioned the Shinden meaning "Magnificent Lightning" as a high performance interceptor in a canard configuration, with the main wing mounted at the rear of the fuselage and a smaller wing fixed to the front. This radical design would be powered by a turbojet engine for increased performance. The Shinden was the only World War II aircraft to use the canard configuration with four 30mm cannons in the nose.

The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ordered Kyushu Hikoki K. K. to help design and build the plane with Captain Masaoki Tsuruno and other Navy engineers. In June 1944 they began work on the plane using a rear facing pusher radial engine driving a six bladed pusher propeller until the turbojet engine was available. By August 1945, two prototypes were completed. Even before the first flight, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ordered the plane into production and planned to produce 150 per month at two factories. When Japan surrendered, Kyushu was refining the design and preparing to build the turbojet version with higher performance.

First Prototype
Development began in June 1944 and J7W1 Shinden Prototype 1 was ready by April 1945. On August 3, 1945 the prototype made a short, successful test flight piloted by designer Captain Tsuruno. Two more flights were made on August 6 and August 9. Each flight was short with the landing gear never retracted for a total flight time of only 45 minutes between the three flights. During these flights, several issues were experienced including pulling to the right during full power at take off and strong vibrations from the propeller and drive shaft. At the end of the Pacific War, captured at shipped to the United States for technical evaluation then donated to the Smithsonian Institution and is the sole surviving example in the world.

Second Prototype
The second prototype J7W1 Shinden Prototype 2 was never flown.

Technical Details
Crew  One (pilot)
Engine  1 x Mitsubishi Ha-43 (MK9D) 18 cylinder air-cooled radial engine 1,598 kW driving a six bladed pusher propeller
Span  11.11 m (36 ft 5 in)
Length  9.66 m (31 ft 8 in)
Height  3.92 m (12 ft 10 in)
Maximum Speed  750 km/h / 469 mph
Range  850 km / 531 mile
Armament  (nose) 4 x 30mm Type 5 cannon with 240 rounds per gun
Bombload  (under wing) 4 x 30 kg bombs or 4 x 60 kg bombs


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