Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki KAT-1
The Kawasaki KAT‑1 was a pioneering Japanese primary trainer that emerged in the early 1950s as the first indigenous piston‑engine aircraft produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries after World War II. Conceived in 1950 to replace the aging Army‑type trainers still in service, the KAT‑1 made its maiden flight on 20 April 1952 and entered limited service with the Japan Air Self‑Defense Force (JASDF) in 1954. Its design drew on proven low‑wing monoplane geometry, featuring an all‑metal stressed‑skin wing, fixed tailwheel undercarriage and a simple, open‑cockpit layout that could be quickly adapted to an enclosed canopy for adverse weather training. Powered by a 150‑horsepower Nakajima JA‑12 radial engine, the aircraft offered gentle stall characteristics, a short take‑off distance and straightforward maintenance, making it ideal for novice pilots. Though only 90 units were built before production ceased in 1957, the KAT‑1 played a crucial role in establishing Japan’s post‑war aeronautical industry, providing a domestic platform for pilot instruction and serving as a testbed for subsequent Kawasaki designs such as the T‑4 jet trainer. Its legacy endures as a symbol of Japan’s swift re‑entry into modern aviation.
Classification
Production & History
- First Flight
- 1954