Tachikawa Ki-54

The Tachikawa Ki-54 was a Japanese twin-engine advanced trainer of World War II.

History
The Ki-54 was developed in response to an Imperial Japanese Army requirement for a twin-engine advanced trainer, principally for crew training. The prototype first flew in summer 1940 and, on completing trials, entered production in 1941 as Army Type 1 Advanced Trainer Model A (Ki-54a). The Ki-54a was soon followed by the Ki-54b as Army Type 1 Operations Trainer Model B and Ki-54c as Army Type 1 Transport Model C. Named Hickory by the Allies, the Ki-54b and -c enjoyed successful careers until the end of the war.

Operators

 * Imperial Japanese Army Air Force
 * Manchukuo
 * Manchukuo Air Force Three provided by Japan as VIP transports
 * Republic of China Air Force Nationalist Chinese (captured)
 * People's Liberation Army Air Force Communist Chinese (captured): 4 Ki-54 were used until their retirement in 1952, and in 1951, they were used to train the first class of female pilots of China.
 * French Indochina
 * Armée de l'Air At least 7 Ki-54 were recovered by the French in French Indochina between 1945 and 1947, after the Japanese surrender.
 * People's Liberation Army Air Force Communist Chinese (captured): 4 Ki-54 were used until their retirement in 1952, and in 1951, they were used to train the first class of female pilots of China.
 * French Indochina
 * Armée de l'Air At least 7 Ki-54 were recovered by the French in French Indochina between 1945 and 1947, after the Japanese surrender.

Survivor
A Ki-54 was found in bottom of Lake Towada on 13 August 2010.It has now been recovered and will be restored for display.

Variants

 * Ki-54a - unarmed pilot trainer
 * Ki-54b - armed crew trainer
 * Ki-54c - eight-passenger light transport, communications aircraft. Civil designation Y-59.
 * Ki-54d - maritime reconnaissance/ASW, carried 8x 60-kg (132-lb) depth charges
 * Ki-110 - one prototype Ki-54c of all-wood construction, destroyed in US bombing attack
 * Ki-111 - projected fuel tanker (none built)
 * Ki-114 - projected fuel tanker of all-wood construction (none built)