Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>T-4>HA3903

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

The Blue Impulse is the 11th Squadron, 4th Air Wing of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the national aerobatic demonstration team. They formed in 1960 and originally named Tenryu but changed to Blue Impulse. Their first aircraft were 6 F-86 Sabres and in 1982 after 545 demonstrations they moved to the Matsushima Air Base and began using the Mitsubishi T-2. The T-2 was used for 175 demonstrations until 1996 when they switched to the Kawasaki T-4. In 2016 to celebrate 20 years flying the T-4; the Blue Impulse aircraft were given a special paint scheme.

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