Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 12:47 pm
A very well-preserved Ki-54 "Hickory" twin-engine trainer has been recovered from a deep lake in Japan. More info here: http://arawasi-wildeagles.blogspot.com/
SN
SN
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:51 pm
Judging by the second video, the recovery didn't go quite the way they planned, but at least they got all of it. So where will it go now?
A search on preservedaxisaircraft.com shows the only others existing are a pair of fuselages - one in Australia and one in China. Nice looking little twin.
A search on preservedaxisaircraft.com shows the only others existing are a pair of fuselages - one in Australia and one in China. Nice looking little twin.
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 2:58 pm
Seems like I recall seeing video of it still intact on the bottom. Sure seems like someone didn't do their planning very well to have it come apart like that.
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:06 pm
Eggsalent, based on the pictures alone, I would suspect the the damage to the plane was due to improper rigging and lifting, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think that even I could have raised her with staps, 55 gallon drums, an air compressor...not as simple as I write, but it has been done before...Hope they can restore whats left 
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:19 pm
i'm sure it will be promptly snapped up by 1 of the high profile japanese collectors in that country, somebody like harada. that isn't a bad thing though considering his restorations are always 1st class.
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Wed Sep 05, 2012 5:32 pm
It really does not matter how well you do your homework or how much time you spend planning a recovery, these planes have been under water for 70 years and even though they look "intact" while underwater, in reality they are not. Even fresh water wreaks havoc on aircraft, not as much as salt water but still enough to degrade the structural integrity. At least it was recovered and credit to those involved for taking the risk/opportunity to save it! 
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:20 am
tom d. friedman wrote:i'm sure it will be promptly snapped up by 1 of the high profile japanese collectors in that country, somebody like harada. that isn't a bad thing though considering his restorations are always 1st class.
Are there any other private collectors in Japan? I thought Harada San was the only one.
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Thu Sep 06, 2012 1:39 am
Dang. I always complain that there's no warbird action here & I miss this one. Lake Towada is only about 2-3 hours from my house & the base they were going to in Hachinohe is just a half hour away.
As usual, I'm a day late & a 100 yen short.
Mac
As usual, I'm a day late & a 100 yen short.
Mac
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Thu Sep 06, 2012 7:00 am
tom d. friedman wrote:i'm sure it will be promptly snapped up by 1 of the high profile japanese collectors in that country, somebody like harada. that isn't a bad thing though considering his restorations are always 1st class.
Amen
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:10 am
Dang. I always complain that there's no warbird action here & I miss this one. Lake Towada is only about 2-3 hours from my house & the base they were going to in Hachinohe is just a half hour away.
As usual, I'm a day late & a 100 yen short.
Mac
Spent some time in Yokosuka. I enjoyed Japan very much.
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Thu Sep 06, 2012 10:17 am
Congratulations to the recovery team! Overall it looks to me they did a good job.
To my eye the plane has crash damage and corrosion which could have contributed to the break up, or it could have been from the "water landing". From my experience, the corrosion was present on the airframe prior to fresh water submersion. If the airframe was clean at the time of the crash it more likely would have less corrosion.
Save a plane today!
Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com
To my eye the plane has crash damage and corrosion which could have contributed to the break up, or it could have been from the "water landing". From my experience, the corrosion was present on the airframe prior to fresh water submersion. If the airframe was clean at the time of the crash it more likely would have less corrosion.
Save a plane today!
Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Fri Sep 07, 2012 1:18 am
seabee1526,
I've never been down to that neck of the woods. Was there anything from WWII left when you were down there?
I was surprised when I first got here that outside of four hangars on base, I've never seen anything from WWII here. No rusted out jeep frames or anything.
Mac
I've never been down to that neck of the woods. Was there anything from WWII left when you were down there?
I was surprised when I first got here that outside of four hangars on base, I've never seen anything from WWII here. No rusted out jeep frames or anything.
Mac
Re: Japanese Warbird Recovered
Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:54 am
Mac,
Don't remember seeing much from WWII era, but the Navy Base has lots of bunkers and tunnels built into the hills on the base that the Japanese used. Not WWII but I was always surprised that the Mikasa survived the war, with her being so close to the shipyard.
Don't remember seeing much from WWII era, but the Navy Base has lots of bunkers and tunnels built into the hills on the base that the Japanese used. Not WWII but I was always surprised that the Mikasa survived the war, with her being so close to the shipyard.