T-1
T-1B in special paint scheme
Role Intermediate trainer aircraft
Manufacturer Fuji Heavy Industries
First flight January 1, 1958
Retired March 3, 2006
Produced 1962-1963
Number built 66

The Fuji T-1 was Japan's first jet-powered trainer aircraft. Its first flight was in January 1958. A total of 66 T-1 planes were built.[1] It was retired in March 2006.

Design and development

After World War II, Japanese aircraft industry was banned from research as well as the destruction of materials and equipment related to aircraft. In 1952, a partial ban on aircraft research was lifted, making it possible to develop Japan's own domestic jet aircraft. In the spring of 1954, the Defense Agency's plan to develop a training jet aircraft emerged, which later lead to the development of the T-1 training plane.[2]

The T-1 was the first indigenously designed Japanese jet aircraft to be developed since World War II. It was Japan's first mass-produced jet and the first aircraft to apply a swept wing.[2] The development of a domestic jet engine was not completed in time, so the T-1A was powered by the British-designed Bristol Siddeley Orpheus turbojet[3] and made its first flight on May 17, 1960.[2] The T-1B was powered by the Ishikawajima-Harima J3 turbojet[4] and 20 were produced between June 1962 and June 1963.[2] Fuji was the successor to the Nakajima Aircraft Company (famous for building several aircraft such as Nakajima Ki-43 and Nakajima Ki-84 during WW2). The first aircraft of Fuji's own design was the T-1 jet trainer.[5][6]

More than 200 T-1s were to be produced, but with the introduction of the Lockheed F-104J/DJ fighters, the education system changed and the Lockheed T-33A, which was in large numbers, took on the same role, and only 66 T-1s were introduced.[2]

With the entry into service of its successor, the Kawasaki T-4, flight training with the T-1 was completed in December 2000. The last T-1 was retired on March 3, 2006.

Variants

Fuji T-1 displayed at Komaki Air Base

Data from: Simpson 2001, p. 246

T1F1
One Prototype powered by a Nippon J3 engine.[7]
T1F2
Two prototypes, powered by 11,800 N (2,645 lbf) Bristol BOr.1 Orpheus engines.[7]
T1F3
Initial designation for the production T-1A, powered by 11,765.55 N (2,645 lbf) Bristol BOr.4 Orpheus engines.[7]
T-1A
Powered by a 17.79 kN (4,000 lbf) Bristol Siddeley Orpheus Mk 805 turbojet engine. The original designation was T1F3. 46 built.
T-1B
Powered by an 11.77 kN (2,645 lbf) Ishikawajima-Harima J3-IHI-3 turbojet engine. 20 built.[2]
T-1C
Converted to 13.72 kN (3,085 lbf) Ishikawajima-Harima J3-IHI-7 engines.

Operators

 Japan

Aircraft on display

Fuji T-1 (25-5856) at Tokorozawa Aviation Museum
Fuji T-1B 05-5810 of AD&TW at Gifu-Kakamigahara Air and Space Museum.

Specifications (T-1A)

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66[9]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 12.12 m (39 ft 9 in)
  • Wingspan: 10.50 m (34 ft 5 in)
  • Height: 4.08 m (13 ft 5 in)
  • Wing area: 22.22 m2 (239.2 sq ft)
  • Aspect ratio: 4.96:1
  • Airfoil: K-561/K-569
  • Empty weight: 2,420 kg (5,335 lb)
  • Gross weight: 4,150 kg (9,149 lb) clean
  • Max takeoff weight: 5,000 kg (11,023 lb) (with external tanks)
  • Fuel capacity: 1,400 L (308 Imp Gallons)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Siddeley Orpheus Mk 805 turbojet, 18 kN (4,000 lbf) thrust

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 925 km/h (575 mph, 499 kn) at 6,100 m (20,000 ft)
  • Cruise speed: 620 km/h (390 mph, 330 kn) at 9,150 m (30,000 ft)
  • Range: 1,300 km (810 mi, 700 nmi) (internal fuel)
  • Ferry range: 1,950 km (1,210 mi, 1,050 nmi) (external tanks)
  • Service ceiling: 14,400 m (47,200 ft) [10]
  • Rate of climb: 33 m/s (6,500 ft/min)
  • Thrust/weight: 0.43

Armament

  • Guns: Provision for 1 × 12.7 mm Browning M53-2 machine gun in nose
  • Hardpoints: 2 , with provisions to carry combinations of:
    • Missiles: 2 × AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles
    • Bombs: 2 × 750 lb (340 kg) bombs
    • Other: 2 × 455 L (100 Imp Gallon) drop tanks

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Simpson 2001, p.246
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "日本の航空宇宙工業　５０年の歩み 第２章　昭和３０年代；再建の時期" [50 Years in the Japanese Aerospace Industry Chapter 2: The 1950s; A Period of Reconstruction] (PDF). 一般社団法人日本航空宇宙工業会 (in Japanese). 一般社団法人日本航空宇宙工業会 (The Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies). pp. 17–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  3. ↑ "[3.0] Naval Sabres & Foreign Sabres". www.faqs.org.
  4. ↑ Odagiri, Hiroyuki (1996). Technology and Industrial Development in Japan. Clarendon Press, Oxford. p. 224. ISBN 0-19-828802-6.
  5. ↑ "Archives at Flightglobal.com".
  6. ↑ International, Flight (1962). Flight International. Delaney Gallay, LTD.
  7. 1 2 3 Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1958). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1958-59. London: Jane's All the World's Aircraft Publishing Co. Ltd. pp. 200–201.
  8. ↑ Thompson, Paul J-HangarSpace - Aviation Museums Retrieved September 8, 2016
  9. ↑ Taylor 1965, p. 103.
  10. ↑ Donald and Lake 1996, p.175.
Bibliography
  • Donald, David and Jon Lake. Encyclopedia of World Military Aircraft. London:Aerospace Publishing, 1996, Single Volume Edition. ISBN 1-874023-95-6.
  • Simpson, Rod (2001). Airlife's World Aircraft. Shrewsbury: Airlife Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9781840371154.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965-66. London:Sampson Low, Marston, 1965.

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