World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe J7W Shinden ("Quaking Lightning") fighter design was developed to counter American high-altitude bombers. With a canard layout, this aircraft was equipped with a propeller in the rear of the aircraft, but it was also designed to be able to be retrofitted with a turbojet engine as this technology matured. The construction for the first two prototypes began about Jun 1944, the stress calculations were completed by Jan 1945, and the first prototype was completed in Apr 1945. After addressing overheating issues with the engine, the first prototype aircraft took flight from Itazuke Airfield, Fukuoka, Japan on 3 Aug 1945, with chief engineer of this project Technical Lieutenant Commander Masayoshi Tsuruno in the cockpit. The Japanese Navy ordered production to commence even prior to the maiden flight, but the war would end before production began. After the war, the prototype aircraft that took flight on 3 Aug 1945 was taken by the United States for testing. The other prototype was ordered to be scrapped, but that ordered was never carried out; it is now in the possession of the United States National Air and Space Museum (though currently not on display).

J7W Shinden Timeline

SPECIFICATIONS

J7W1

Machinery	One Mitsubishi Ha-43 12 (MK9D) 18-cyl air-cooled radial engine rated at 2,130hp
Armament	4x30mm Type 5 cannon, up to 120kg of bombs
Crew	1
Span	11.11 m
Length	9.66 m
Height	3.92 m
Wing Area	20.50 m²
Weight, Empty	3,645 kg
Weight, Loaded	4,928 kg
Weight, Maximum	5,288 kg
Speed, Maximum	750 km/h
Service Ceiling	12,000 m
Range, Normal	850 km

Photographs