Ki-76 . Comparison of the time frame indicates that when the German Fi-156 purchased in Germany for study in 1942 (according to other sources in August 1941) arrived in Japan, the prototype of the Japanese analogue, which first took off in May 1941, had already passed everything. testing stages that did not reveal serious problems.

However, upon the arrival of the German car in Japan, it was decided to conduct comparative tests, which revealed that in many respects the Japanese analogue is superior to the "German". In particular, the takeoff distance of the Japanese aircraft was 58 meters, compared to the 62 meters required for Fisilera to take off. The landing run length was also shorter - 62 versus 68 meters. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that the German data significantly differed from those obtained by the Japanese, which can only be explained by the popular proverb about waders praising their swamp. True, the use of the domestic Hitachi Na-42 radial engine in Matsuhara's plane, which rotated a wooden two-blade propeller with a diameter of 2.5 m, compared to the in-line Argus of the "German", seriously impaired the view in the front hemisphere.

The wing mechanization schemes were somewhat different on the German and Japanese machines. On both aircraft fixed slats were used, but unlike the hovering ailerons on the Storch, on the Ki-76, the Japanese aircraft received this designation, Fowler's flaps were used. The chassis design also differed. In addition, due to the slightly longer length of the Japanese aircraft, the stabilizer angle was different. Despite the slightly more power of the Japanese engine compared to the German Argus, the Ki-76 was 200 kg heavier and developed less speed than the Storch. But this disadvantage was not significant for cars of this class.

In general, the Japanese aircraft made a favorable impression, and in October 1942, the aircraft was officially adopted by the Japanese army as "Renraku-ki San-shiki" - "Type 3 liaison aircraft" or Ki-76. Since the end of 1942, the aircraft went into mass production at the Nihon Kokusai Koku Kogyo K.K plant in the city of Hiratsuka, as the Yunkichi Terada company was called since 1941, after the merger with the Kokusai Kokuki K.K. company.

The simplicity of the design, high manufacturability and the absence of strategic materials in the Ki-76's design made it possible until the end of 1944, when production was curtailed, to produce 937 copies of this aircraft.

Photo	Description
	Drawing Ki-76

Spotter and Reconnaissance Aircraft Firsr flight: 1942 Kobesiko

The project of a short takeoff and landing aircraft with a tandem wing Te-Go was proposed by Professor T. Miki in 1941. The aircraft was developed with the assistance of military specialists and was intended for close reconnaissance and artillery fire adjustment. The army designation "Ki" was not assigned to this machine, since according to the documents it was not officially under the jurisdiction of the army and the work was carried out on its own initiative.

The fuselage of the aircraft was made of metal, but the metal sheathing was used only in its nose. The wing had a wooden structure with plywood sheathing. Automatic slats were located along the entire wing span. Large Fowler flaps were also used, and the ailerons could also be used as flaps. The tail wings had the same design with the main ones. The Te-Go's armament consisted of a defensive mobile 7.7 mm machine gun mounted in the rear fuselage.

The only Te-Go prototype was built in 1942 at the Kobesiko factory. It was equipped with an Argus As.10 engine, but no armament has yet been installed. The tests of the aircraft were interrupted due to its accident and were no longer resumed, since by this time the Ka-Go gyroplane was recognized as serviceable.

Photo	Description
	Drawing Te-Go

Bibliography

• Kokusai Ki-76 /Evgeny Aranov/
• Artillery spotter Kobeisiko \ Miki Te-Go /Andrey Krumkach/
• Aviation of Japan /Andrey Firsov/
• Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific War /Rene J Francillion/