MITSUBISHI Ki-46 DINAH Reconnaissance Aircraft Vintage MARU MECHANIC 13

Description: Offered by Over The Blue Horizon and recently obtained in Tokyo is one of the more difficult-to-obtain and vintage MARU MECHANICs from Japan: Number 13, November 1978 featuring the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) MITSUBISHI Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Aircraft, better known as the Ki-46 (Allied Codename: DINAH). One of the best-looking Japanese aircraft of World War II, the Mitsubishi Ki-46 was designed to meet an IJAAF requirement of 1937 for a higher performance reconnaissance aircraft to supersede the Ki-15. The two-seat Ki-46 prototype was flown for the first time in late November 1939, and although early testing showed that maximum speed of the Ki-46 was some 10% below specification, its speed and overall performance was significantly better than in-service Army and Navy aircraft and it was ordered into production as the Army Type 100 Command Reconnaissance Plane Model 1 (Ki-46-l), later allocated the Allied codename DINAH. Early operational problems with the Ki-46-l resulted in production of the improved Ki-46-ll with more powerful 1,800 HP Mitsubishi Ha-102 engines, this powerplant giving the aircraft a maximum speed slightly in excess of the original specification. The Ki-46-ll was the major production version, with more than 1,000 built, a number of which were converted later into three-seat radio/navigation trainers under the designation Ki-46-ll KAI. Subsequent variants included the faster and improved Ki-46-III of which 609 were built, a small number being converted later as Ki-46-lll KAI fighter interceptors and Ki-46lllb ground-attack aircraft. Ki-46-IV prototypes, with 1500 HP Mitsubishi Ha-112-ll Ru turbocharged engines to give improved high altitude performance, were under test when the war ended. In service from the beginning to the end of the Pacific war, the Ki-46 proved to be an important aircraft for the Japanese army, but the growing capability and number of Allied fighters resulted in unacceptably high losses of Ki-46-IIs. However, the improved performance of the Ki-46-lll meant that this version was virtually free from interception until the final stage of the war. Production of all versions totaled 1,742. This 80-page, 7.25 x 10.25 inch softcover, published in 1979 and long out-of-print, has the standard MARU MECHANIC format – great detail drawings, decent b/w photographs, and color profiles, all with an overall emphasis on the mechanical aspects of the aircraft. The increasingly rare volumes from this series remain very popular with aviation historians and advanced modelers alike. Text is in Japanese but the quality of illustration in these MARU MECHANICs helps greatly in facilitating understanding. Condition of this particular MARU MECHANIC on the DINAH is GOOD+ bordering on VERY GOOD. Otherwise, it is in GREAT condition. Note that Over the Blue Horizon ships from the USA with FREE United States Postal Service (USPS) FIRST CLASS shipping to USA buyers! eBay charges sales tax for certain states; Over the Blue Horizon charges Hawaii residents state general excise tax. Your purchase will be carefully wrapped to ensure that it arrives in the same condition as described in the eBay listing. If you are not happy with your purchase for whatever reason, we will work something out -- your satisfaction is GUARANTEED. Regardless of where you are in the world, buy with confidence from a well-established eBay merchant with a sterling reputation and an exceptionally high customer satisfaction rate.

Price: 39.99 USD

Location: Kailua, Hawaii

End Time: 2024-11-19T08:00:00.000Z

Shipping Cost: 0 USD