EC-1

The EC‑1, developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in the early 1970s, was the company’s first all‑metal, twin‑engine transport aircraft designed for short‑range cargo and passenger service. Initiated in 1969 as a response to Japan’s growing demand for a domestically produced regional airliner, the prototype first flew on 12 March 1973 from Osaka’s Itami Airport and entered limited production the following year. Powered by two Rolls‑Royce Turbomeca Astazur turboprop engines delivering 1,300 shaft horsepower each, the EC‑1 could cruise at 420 km/h with a maximum payload of 5,000 kilograms and accommodate up to 30 passengers in a pressurised cabin. Its high‑wing layout, retractable landing gear, and reinforced aluminum alloy airframe gave it excellent short‑field performance and corrosion resistance, crucial for operations in Japan’s humid coastal regions. Although only 45 units were built before the program was halted in 1979, the EC‑1 demonstrated Kawasaki’s capability to integrate advanced avionics, fly‑by‑wire controls, and modular cargo pallets into a single platform. The aircraft paved the way for later Japanese designs such as the Kawasaki C‑2 strategic transport, marking a turning point in the nation’s pursuit of self‑reliant aeronautical engineering.