Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>T-4>HA3902B

General Background

The Kawasaki T-4 is a subsonic intermediate jet trainer used by the JASDF. In November 1981 Kawasaki was awarded the contract to produce 220 T-4s with the actual final production number being 208. The aircraft was designed to replace the Lockheed T-33 and Fuji T-1. The first prototype flew on July 29, 1985 with the first production aircraft flying in June 1988 and delivery of the first T-4 to the 31st and 32nd Flying Training Squadrons, 1st Air Wing 3 months later.

The Aircraft

Kawasaki T-4 86-5605 was c/n 1005 and was the first production T-4. The T-4 was designed as a replacement for the aging Lockheed T-33. In 1988 the first squadron to receive the new trainers was the 31st Training Squadron (Kikotai) of the 1st Air Wing (Kokudan) based at the Hamamatsu Air Base. The 31st TSQ is named "Blue Dolphin" while the second training squadron the 32nd is named "Red Dolphin". Hamamatsu Air Base was originally established in 1925. In 1952 it became a flight training school.

Specifications :

Number Manufactured:	208 Entered
Role:	2 seat intermediate jet-trainer
Crew:	2 X pilots in tandem
Dimensions
Length :	42 ft. 8 in. (13 m)
Wingspan :	32 ft. 7 in. (9.94 m)
Height :	15 ft. 1 in. (4.6 m)
Weight
Empty :	8,360 lb. (3,790 kg)
Maximum Take Off :	16,530 lb. (7,500 kg)
Performance:
Engines :	2 X Ishikawajima-Harima F3-IHI-30 turbofans producing 3,250 lb. (16 kN) of thrust per engine.
Maximum Speed :	645 mph (1,038 km/h)
Range :	900 nm (1,670 km)
Service Ceiling :	49,800 ft. (15,200 m)
Armament :
2 X Hardpoints for :	ASM-2 long-range anti-ship missiles
	AA-4 Air-to-air missiles
Gun Pods :	Training Bombs (free-falling)
	70-mm unguided rockets