Wings of Eagles Museum - Ohka Cherry Blossom MXY7 Suicide Rocket Bomb
Bill Maloney 11/10/2010 |
page 1 of 2 |
Other Ohka Cherry Blossom Suicide Rocket Bombs at other Aviation Museums in the northeast |
|
Ohka Cherry Blossom at the USAF Museum in Dayton, OH | Ohka Cherry Blossom Suicide Plane at the US Navy Museum in Washington, DC |
Length: 19feet, 10 inches
Wingspan: 16 feet, 9 inches
Height: 3 feet 9 inches
Crew: 1
Weight: 4,718lbs
Max Speed: 576mph teminal dive speed
Glide Speed: 229mph
Range: 55 miles
Service Ceiling: Dependant on the mother ship
Fuel Capacity: N/A
Powerplant: Three Type 4 Mk. 3 solid propellant rocket motors with 1,464lbs total thrust
Armament:
2,646lb warhead
First Flight : 1944
This particular Ohka Cherry Blossom Rocket Bomb is an incredibly well made replica built by George Lucas of NY state. His workmanship and attention to detail is just outstanding. These aircraft were used by the Japanese Imperial forces as Kamikaze suicide planes. The Ohka would be carried under the wing of a Betty bomber to within 35 miles of the ship or ships to be attacked. The Cherry Blossom would be released and the Betty bomber returned to base. The Ohka pilot would then light one or more of the 3 solid propellant rocket motors to cover the rest of the distance to the target. The pilot would then dive the Ohka into the target at a very high speed, setting off the 2,646lb high explosive warhead in the nose of the aircraft. It is essentially a Smart Bomb with an expendible pilot providing the guidance to the target.
Wings of Eagles Museum Main Page
Military & Aviation Museums Main Page