Fuji LM-1 Nikko

LM-1 Nikko
Airworthy Fuji LM-1 Nikko of 1955 in JGSDF markings at Lakeland, Florida, in April 2009
Role	military communications aircraft
National origin	Japan
Manufacturer	Fuji Heavy Industries
First flight	6 June 1955
Introduction	1955
Primary user	Japanese Air Self-Defense Force
Number built	27
Developed from	Beech T-34 Mentor
Variants	Fuji KM-2 RTAF-2

The Fuji LM-1 Nikko is a Japanese light communications aircraft of the 1950s.

Development

Fuji Heavy Industries built 176 Beech T-34 Mentor two-seat training aircraft under licence in the early 1950s. Fuji then redesigned the basic Mentor as a four-seat communications aircraft under the designation LM-1. A new lengthened centre fuselage was added to the Mentor's wing, undercarriage and tail assembly. 27 LM-1s were produced during 1955/56.^[1]

Operational history

The LM-1s were delivered to the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and were used for communications and general duties.^[2] After withdrawal from operation, several LM-1s were sold on the U.S. civil market and are flown by civil pilots as "warbirds".^[3]

Variants

LM-1: four-seat communications aircraft with 225 h.p. (168 kW) Continental engine (27 built)

LM-2: higher-powered version with 340 h.p. (254 kW) Lycoming engine (2 built)

RTAF-2: a variant developed in Thailand by Thai Aviation Industry.^[4]

Specifications (LM-1)

Data from Green, 1956, p. 86

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Capacity: 3 passengers
• Length: 25 ft 11 in (7.90 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 9 in (9.98 m)
• Height: 9 ft 7 in (3.63 m)
• Wing area: 177.6 ft² (16.50 m²)
• Empty weight: 2,234 lb (1,013 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,375 lb (1,531 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Continental O-470 6-cylinder horizontally opposed air-cooled, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 157 mph (253 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 17,388 ft (5,300 m)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fuji aircraft.

Notes

Bibliography