Ki-18 | |
---|---|
Mitsubishi Ki-18 | |
Role | prototype fighter aircraft |
Manufacturer | Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd |
First flight | August 1935 |
Primary user | IJA Air Force |
Number built | 1 |
The Mitsubishi Ki-18 (三菱 キ18, Ki-jyuhachi) was an unsuccessful and unsolicited attempt by Mitsubishi to meet a 1934 requirement issued by the Japanese Army for a modern single-seat monoplane fighter suitable to the needs of the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force. During this competition, Nakajima entered the Nakajima Ki-11 (which was somewhat similar to the Boeing P-26 Peashooter), and Kawasaki entered the more maneuverable Kawasaki Ki-10 biplane. The competition was won by Kawasaki, but the new fighter was not accepted by the IJAAF with much enthusiasm.[1]