Nakajima J9Y Kikka
Technical Information

Background
The Nakajima Kikka (中島 橘花 "Orange Blossom") was Japan's first jet-powered aircraft. Also known as Kōkoku Nigō Heiki (皇国二号兵器, Imperial Weapon No.2. Developed late in World War II and the first prototype only had one successful flight before the surrender of Japan.

During 1942, the Japanese military attaché in Germany witnessed flight trials of the Messerschmitt Me-262. Afterwards, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) issued a request to Nakajima to develop a similar jet aircraft for use as a jet bomber that could be constructed by unskilled labor with folding wings to allow it to be hidden in tunnels and caves in the anticipated final defense of the home islands

Nakajima engineers Kazuo Ohno and Kenichi Matsumura designed a plane that had an external appearance to the Messerschmitt Me-262 but was smaller and did not have swept wings. The main landing gear was from the Mitsubishi Type 0 Carrier Fighter / A6M Reisen (Zero) and the nose wheel was from the Yokosuka P1Y1 Ginga (Frances). During development, the the Japanese built Tsu-11 motorjet engine and later the Ne-10 but it failed to produce enough thrust. Next, the Ne-20 was developed a new turbojet engine was developed based on the German BMW 003 from only a few photographs and a cutaway drawing.

First Prototype
The first prototype J9Y Kikka Prototype 1 commenced ground tests at the Nakajima factory on June 30, 1945. The following month it was dismantled and delivered to Kisarazu Naval Airfield where it was re-assembled and prepared for flight testing. The first flight took place on August 7, 1945 piloted by Lieutenant Commander Susumu Takaoka for a 20 minute test flight and performed well with the only concern being the length of the takeoff run. For the second test flight on August 11, 1945 rocket assisted take off (RATO) units were fitted to the aircraft. However, because their alignment had been miscalculated, the pilot mistakenly believed that they had not fired and thus shut off the main engines to abort takeoff. As a result the aircraft did not take off at all and was damaged when it ran off the end of the runway, tearing off the landing gear and crashing into Tokyo Bay. Before it could be repaired Japan surrendered and the Pacific War ended.

Second Prototype
The second prototype J9Y Kikka Prototype 2 was built as an airframe only for load testing with small engine nacelles and was never flown.

Third Prototype
The third prototype was almost ready for flight at the end of the Pacific War.

Production
A total of two prototypes were built, with a third almost completed by the end of the Pacific War. In addition, roughly 18-25 Kikka were in various stages of assembly in the Nakajima factory when Japan surrendered.

Technical Details
Crew  One
Engine 2 x Ishikawajima Ne-20 turbo jet engines under each wing
Span 10 m
Length 9.25 m
Height 3.05 m
Maximum Speed 700 km/h at 6,000m
Range 980 km
Armament  (nose) 1 x 30mm cannon or 2 x 30mm cannons or 2 x 20mm cannons
Bomb Load  1 x 500 kg or 800 kg bomb