Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki KAL-2
The Kawasaki KAL‑2 was a low‑wing, single‑engine monoplane developed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in the early 1930s to serve both civil training and light commercial transport roles. First flown in 1932, the KAL‑2 emerged from Kawasaki’s experience with earlier KAL‑1 trainers, incorporating a more powerful 150 hp Nakajima radial engine and a reinforced steel‑tube fuselage with fabric covering. Its spacious cabin accommodated up to four passengers or a pilot and three trainees, and the aircraft featured a fixed, split‑type landing gear and a simple, robust control system that made it popular with flight schools throughout Japan. Production numbers remained modest, with only about forty units built before the program was halted in 1936 in favor of more advanced designs such as the Ki‑55. Despite its limited run, the KAL‑2 demonstrated Kawasaki’s ability to integrate modern aerodynamics and reliable powerplants, helping to establish the company’s reputation as a versatile aircraft manufacturer. The type also contributed to the development of Japan’s pre‑war pilot training infrastructure, laying groundwork for the rapid expansion of military aviation in the late 1930s. Today, a restored KAL‑2 is displayed at the Tokorozawa Aviation Museum, reminding enthusiasts of this pioneering Japanese design.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1954